Disclaimer:
Due to the large amount of sermons and topics that appear on this site I feel it is necessary to post this disclaimer on all sermons posted. These sermons are original to the author and the leading of the Holy Spirit. While ideas and illustrations are often gleaned from many sources including those at Sermoncentral.com, any similarities and wording including sermon title, that may appear to be the same as any other sermon are purely coincidental. In instances where other minister’s wording is used, due recognition will be given. These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely. May God richly bless you as you read these words. It is my sincere desire that all who read them may be enriched. All scriptures quoted in these sermons are copies and quoted from the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Pastor James May
THE GIFTS OF THE GIVER
At the time of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, there appeared a star over Judea that had never been seen before. This star was the fore-runner or announcement of the birth of the “Bright and Morning Star” this spoken of in Revelation 22:16, "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."
Some scholars say that the star was actually an angel that appeared to the Wise Men, but most reject this theory.
One popular Bible scholar says that the star was simply the light or glory of the Lord, which shone about the shepherds, when the angel brought them the news of Christ’s birth, and which at so great a distance appeared as a star to these wise men.
Others say that it was a comet, such as has been thought to tell of the birth or death of some illustrious person.
For most of us though, we take what the Bible says literally and we believe that it was a real star. It was a new and an unusual one, such as had never been seen, nor observed before; and is called his star, the star of the king born, because it appeared on his account, and was the sign of his birth.
They saw the star "in the east"; not in the eastern part of the heavens, but they saw it when they were in the east, in their own country; and according to the best observations they were able to make, it was in that part of the heavens right over the land of Judea. Thus they concluded that the king of the Jews was born; but the question is how they should know and be assured that such a person was born by the appearance of the star?
There is a prophecy of Balaam’s in Numbers 24:17, "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, …”
This was to be among the first prophecies of the coming Messiah. These wise men took the appearance of this star to be a sign of the Messiah’s coming. They interpreted these words to mean that, when a star shall "walk" or steer its course from Jacob, or above, or over the land of Israel, then a sceptre, or sceptre bearer, that is, a king, shall rise out of Israel.
The prophecy of Balaam, who lived in the east, might be traditionally handed down to this time, and be well known by these men; and who, observing such a star appear over the land of Judea, might conclude that now the sceptre bearer or king was born. Besides, Zoroastres, the author of the sect of the Magi or wise men, and who appears to be a Jew by birth, and to be acquainted with the writings of the Old Testament, and with this prophecy, spoke of the birth of Christ to his followers; and told them when he should be born, a star would appear, and shine in the day, and ordered them to go where that star directed, and offer gifts, and worship him.
Thus we see, that as result of their knowledge of the prophecies of Balaam, and of the many traditional teachings of the Jews concerning the coming of the Messiah, the Wise Men were much convinced that they had to travel to Judea to find this newborn king in Israel. It was their bound duty to go and bow down to him and bring him gifts, or offerings of peace and friendship.
And so they came, traveling across the desert sands and the dusty roads of Judea. After stopping at Herod’s palace to see if they could obtain information, the Wise Men refused to give away all of their knowledge and then left the palace where they once again caught vision of the star that led them to the little town of Bethlehem. It was there that the star stood still and they found the young child Jesus with Mary his mother.
Matthew 2:10-11, "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."
Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh were pretty fancy gifts and they were symbolic of the life of Jesus that would soon be revealed to the whole world.
Gold
In the earliest of creation, gold was principally used for ornaments. It was very abundant and easily mined. Many tons of it were used in connection with the temple as we can see in 2 Chronicles 1:15, "And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycamore trees that are in the vale for abundance."
In our time gold is less plenteous. Most nations have it horded in vaults that are nearly impervious to outside elements. Gold is now, and always has been a symbol of great riches and wealth. Our entire economy began on the value of gold as its foundation.
Thus we see that the gold that was given by the Wise Men to the child Jesus was a symbol of his royalty and riches. Here was the very Son of God, the owner of all the cattle on a thousand hills, the King of the Universe, the King of all Kings, Creator of all things, rich in mercy and grace. Rich in Love and compassion for the fallen state of man, who had left all of those riches of Heaven behind to become a man who would die for the sins of mankind.
Now we see that no amount of gold can purchase one moment of life. Even the happiness and joy that comes from wealth fades very quickly. But, the riches of His grace give us the gift of salvation without price. We cannot pay for it nor earn it. No wealth is needed to purchase eternal life yet we receive all the wealth of Heaven as heirs with Christ when we accept His sacrifice for our sin and receive Him as our Lord and Savior.
The Wise Men also brought Jesus Frankincense.
It was one of the ingredients in the perfume of the sanctuary.
Exodus 30:34-37, "And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy. And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the LORD."
It was also used as an part of the meat-offering.
Leviticus 2:1, "And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:"
Leviticus 2:16, "And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD."
When frankincense burned it gave off a fragrant odor, and because of this the incense became a symbol of the Divine name of Jehovah God and an emblem of prayer.
By this we can see that Jesus was given a gift that symbolized the fact that his body was to be a “meat offering” unto God for the sin of humanity. His life gave off a fragrant scent of love and compassion for all that came in contact with Him and the prayers of our Lord were ever going toward the Father in Heaven on behalf of those around him.
Jesus is the sweet presence that we feel in our service this morning. He is the sweet, peaceful presence when you are shut in with God in your secret place. All of the love, compassion and mercy of Christ was mixed together with his sacrifice upon the cross for our sin as he became that “meat offering” unto God. We can see that the frankincense has a very special meaning to this child, Jesus Christ.
Myrrh
Myrrh was first mentioned as a principal ingredient in the holy anointing oil in Exodus 30:23 and was used to anoint every part of the tabernacle in the wilderness. I remind you that every part of that Old Testament tabernacle was a type and shadow of the come Savior of the world.
It was also used in embalming of the dead as we can see in John 19:39-40, "And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury."
It was also as a perfume in Esther 2:12, where all of the women of Ahasuerus’ court were anointed with myrrh before coming before the king. Also in Psalms 45:7-8, "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad." Also in Proverbs 7:17, "I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon."
It was also a custom of the Jews to give those who were condemned to death by crucifixion “wine mingled with myrrh” to dull the pain and torture of the cross. This drugged wine was probably partaken of by the two malefactors, but when the Roman soldiers pressed it upon Jesus “he received it not”.
The gift of myrrh to the child Jesus had a double meaning to us. First it was a gift of sweetness in the love and mercy that he extended to us. Thank God for the love of Jesus Christ for a lost and dying world. Thank you Jesus for loving us before we loved you.
It was also a symbol of the anointing upon the life of Christ. He is the anointed one! He is the very Son of God and it only the through the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the washing of our sins away in his anointed sacrifice of his own blood that we can be saved.
It was also a symbol of his willingness to suffer for our sins. He refused to dull the pain for it had to be felt. He refused to give up his suffering or his ability to think clearly until the very end for he knew the importance of what his death upon the cross meant to each of us.
Jesus died for you and I. The gifts he received even as a small child were symbols of his love, compassion and mercy for mankind.
Can we give him anything less than our total commitment? Let this Christmas Season be the greatest time of your life. Give Jesus the greatest gift you could ever give. Give Him your heart and life in complete surrender. He will give you the greatest gift you could ever receive in return, the gift of eternal life. Now that’s what I call a Merry Christmas!
