The Gifts of the Magi (Gold)
Scott Bayles, pastor
Blooming Grove Christian Church: 12/10/2017
Christmas is a time of giving. And that means Christmas is a time of shopping. Ever since the wise men from the east showed up at the stable carrying gold, frankincense, and myrrh, people have been exchanging gifts at Christmas.
Of course, it’s much more complicated today than it was for the wise men. For one thing, they didn’t have to contend with shopping malls, all packed full of parents going from store to store to store, desperately searching for the hottest new toys. The magi didn’t have to worry about sizes, or colors, or return policies. There were no robot dogs in those days, no Star Wars Legos, and definitely no flying drones with streaming video. Just plain old gold, frankincense and myrrh.
I once heard someone suggest that Jesus would have been better off if it had been Wise Women instead of Wise Men—they would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought practical gifts from Baby’s-R-Us, like diapers, wipes, and formula!
And, while not all gifts need to be practical, if you put any thought into a gift, it ought to tell you a little about the person who receives the gift, right? For instance, earlier this week Facebook reminded me of this memory from three years ago.
Next Slide: 2014 Stocking
This is what Ashley and the kids filled my stocking with on Saint Nicholas Day 2014. This tells you a little about me, doesn’t it? If you didn’t know any better it might tell you that I’m eight years old. However, it obviously tells you that I’m a superhero fan and I like Little Debbie snacks! While it’s easy to give someone a gift card or simply purchase something off their Amazon wish list, the best gifts are always personal—specially tailored for the person to whom you are giving the gift. They take into account the recipient’s personality, likes, dislikes, and individuality. Gifts like these often reveal something about the recipient.
This Christmas I want to invite you to reflect on the gifts of the magi. The magi were, after all, wise men. Certainly, they put some thought into the gifts they brought to Jesus that first Christmas. What might these gifts tell us about Jesus?
The story of the Magi is told in Matthew 2. If you have a Bible or an app on your phone, open it there. Matthew tells us: “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem” (Matthew 2:1 NIV).
We often assume that there were three of them, though the Bible never says that. There may have been a dozen or more for all we know. And we don’t really know if the Magi arrived on the day of Christ’s birth or not. In fact, in prior centuries Christians use to celebrate the day of the Magi’s visit twelve days after Christmas, on January 6— which is where get the 12 Days of Christmas. Regardless of when they arrived or how many of them there were, however, the Magi followed a star in search of a Savior. Matthew continues:
“The star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:9-11 NLT).
These valuable items were standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world: gold as a precious metal, frankincense as perfume or incense, and myrrh as anointing oil. But in addition to the honor and status implied by the value of the Magi’s gifts, many scholars think that these three gifts were chosen for their special spiritual symbolism about Jesus himself. So for the next three weeks, I’d look to take a closer look at each of these gifts and discover what they reveal about the baby in the manger and who he would grow up to be.
Let’s start with gold.
In all ages, gold has served as an article and store of enduring value. Unlike silver, its lesser cousin, it is highly resistant to oxidation and corruption. It is soft and malleable, warm and beautiful, and holds its value over long periods of time even as other goods and commodities rise and fall. It was a treasure befitting royalty. As such, scholars generally agree that the gift of gold represented the kingship of Jesus.
In fact, the kingship of Jesus is central to the story of the Magi. When the Magi first arrived in Jerusalem, they began asking around, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2 NLT). Because the Magi were coming to hail this newborn king, gold was the perfect gift, an acknowledgement of royalty. The Magi came in search of a king and they came to Jerusalem because that would be the most likely place to find a Jewish king.
However, their search for a king deeply disturbed the reigning king of Judea, King Herod. When word reached Herod that a caravan of wealthy wise men had come to his province in search of a newborn king, he felt threatened. The Bible says:
Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” (Matthew 2:7-8 NLT).
On the contrary, Herod had no intentions of kneeling before a new king. An angel warned the Magi not to return to Herod, and told Joseph, “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother. Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him” (Matthew 2:14-15 NLT).
When Herod finally realized that the Magi outwitted him by avoiding Jerusalem on the way home, he was furious. The Bible says, “He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance” (Matthew 2:16 NLT).
Any human being with an ounce of compassion who reads this story wonders—how could Herod do something so hatful and horrific? The answer is—he desperately wanted to be the king.
King Herod, known to history as Herod the Great, was a Roman client-king; that is, he ruled over the region Judea and Samaria, but still answered to the Emperor. King Herod was a schemer who took advantage of Roman political unrest to claw his way to the top. During a period of strife following the assignation of Julius Caesar, Herod won the favor of Octavian, who later became the Roman emperor Augustus Caesar. Although Herod implemented extensive building programs throughout Jerusalem—including a new market, an amphitheater, and a significant expansion to the Jewish Temple—his monarchy was marked by bloodshed. Herod kept order in Israel but by using secret police and tyrannical rule. He was a brutal man who killed his father-in-law, several of his ten wives, and two of his own sons because he didn’t want them commandeering his throne. His uncontrolled ambition turned him into a paranoid monster who violently lashed at anyone he perceived to be a threat.
This is why Herod was deeply disturbed by the news of a newborn king and why he didn’t think twice about slaughtering every baby in Bethlehem.
While most of us are much more stable and sensible than King Herod, he isn’t the only one desperate to remain in charge.
Everyone wants to be a king.
Some of us want to be the king of our workplace, or the king of our house. Some of us want to be the king of our fantasy football league. Some of us treat the highway as our own little kingdom, demanding that our minions ask our permission before they change lanes or slow down.
Kings stand above everyone else, receiving praise and reverence from everyone around them. Nothing is withheld from kings. They never come in second place, and they never have to acquiesce to another’s needs.
In the infamous words of Mel Brooks, “It’s good to be king.”
Many people are still deeply disturbed by the kingship of Jesus. Because, if he is the king, that means we’re not. We don’t like that very much. We want to be the ones in charge. In charge of our own lives, in charge of our relationships, in charge of our destinies. Like Herod, we have a hard time relinquishing control.
But the truth is, whether we choose to accept it or not, there is only One True King. It’s not me. It’s not you. Jesus and Jesus alone is King of Israel, king of all nations, king of nature and the universe. He’s not just a client-king of some small middle-eastern region like Herod. Rather, Revelation says, “he is Lord of lords and King of kings” (Revelation 17:14 NIV).
The title, King of Kings, indicates someone who has the power and authority to exercise absolute dominion over all His realm. In the case of the Lord Jesus, the realm is all of creation. Fundamentally, the idea of Jesus being King of kings and Lord of lords means that there is no higher authority. His reign over all things is absolute and inviolable. In the end, all other rulers will be conquered or abolished, and He alone will reign supreme as King and Lord of all the earth.
The Apostle Paul puts it this way: “God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:9-11 NLT).
The imagery of bowing the knee means to pay homage, to offer worship, typically by bowing or kneeling before someone of authority. It symbolized allegiance and obedience. This is just what the Magi did. As soon as they saw the Christ child, they bowed down and worshiped. They may have been the first ones to kneel before Jesus, but they won’t be the last. Rather, the Magi simply paved the way for countless millions more.
If Christ is the King, He deserves our honor, loyalty, and obedience. We put ourselves under His authority and power. Whatever He says, we determine to do. That’s the point of the oft-repeated lines in the Lord’s Prayer, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). Kingdom people submit their own will to the will of the King, we pledge allegiance to our King.
Have you pledged allegiance to Christ the King?
Poland has.
Three weeks ago (November 19, 2017), the small European nation made global headlines. After a vote in the Polish parliament, Jesus Christ was officially crowned King of Poland. In a ceremony at the Church of Divine Mercy in Krakow, people from around the country came together and declared Christ king over their country and their hearts.
They prayed together, “In our hearts, rule us, Christ! In our families, rule us, Christ! ... In our schools and universities, rule us, Christ! ... Through the Polish nation, rule us, Christ! ... We pledge to defend your holy worship and preach Thy royal glory, Christ our King, we promise!”
The prayer continued, “We entrust the Polish people and Polish leaders to you. Make them exercise their power fairly and in accordance with your laws… Reign in our homeland and reign in every nation – for the greater glory of the most Holy Trinity and the salvation of mankind.”
For some, the ceremony was the answer to the prayers of Polish nurse Rosalia Zelkova, who in the early 20th century said one day her country would have a divine revelation that Jesus is king. Many believe this bold declaration is the start of something special in the country. According to the Conference of Polish Bishops, the ceremony was not intended to add to Jesus' honor or power, but was rather a national recognition of His sovereignty.
What a noble and needed move for the people of Poland. And what a wonderful example for the rest of the world.
It’s good that I’m not the king. I wouldn’t be very good at it. Jesus, on the other hand, is the perfect King. He’s just, loving, merciful, and full of grace. He doesn’t barter with lesser kings, he can’t be bribed, and he’s not corruptible. He doesn’t just do good — he is good. And the best part is—he invites all of us into his Kingdom.
Conclusion
As we contemplate the kingship of Christ, as symbolized by the Magi’s gift of gold, we’re left with essentially two options. Like King Herod, we can desperately cling to our own tiny throne, unwilling to relinquish control over own lives, and lash out anyone who threatens to take that throne from us. Or, like the wise men, we can choose seek out the One True King, bow before him and worship at his throne.
Which will choose this Christmas?
Invitation
As you consider those choices, would you bow with me in prayer?
Holy and Heavenly Father, we thank you for the most precious gift of all—the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. The Magi’s gift of gold reminds us that He is the One True King. Like them, we bow down and we worship. Like the people of Poland, we invite you to rule our hearts and lives, Jesus. Rule our families, our homes, our churches and schools. We kneel before you and surrender to your Lordship. We praise you that your Kingdom has come and we pray that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
Let’s stand and sing together church.
