The world, during the birth of Christ, was largely unaware and totally clueless that the most important person in all creation had just come onto planet earth. Thankfully, there were three wise men– the three Magi, who knew. They were invariably also known as the “three kings.” Someone even came up with names for them, even if they were not named at all in the Bible.
What the Bible does say is that the three wise men came from somewhere east of Jerusalem. Justin Martyr, an early Christian writer, said that they came from Arabia, southeast of Judea. “They may have been among the many Jewish people who were looking for the fulfillment of Israelite prophecies about the coming of the Messiah, such as Daniel’s prophecy said.”
On the other hand, Margaret Barker, author of the book, “Christmas: The Original Story” says that the Magi could have been Jewish temple priests who had gone into exile in Arabia around 625 B.C, waiting to return to Jerusalem at an opportune time. It is said that Herod expelled these temple priests when he built his own magnificent temple in Jerusalem.
If, indeed, the Magi came from these priestly groups, then the gifts they brought Jesus were truly befitting a high priest; not only gifts for a king.
Other accounts say that the three wise men were actually astrologers who were also adept in sorcery and healing. But this comes from a non-Scriptural point of view.
Very little is said about the Magi. When I was around five years old, I knew them as the three kings who brought gifts to baby Jesus. Hence, our family happily celebrated the feast of the Three Kings as the last event of our Christmas celebrations. Our parents, uncles and aunts, and big cousins would hide these colorful gift boxes around thec house for us children to search for! These were supposedly the gifts of the Three Kings for us.
Imagine our glee and utter excitement when we woke up bright and early every January 6 to look for our gifts – our last batch of gifts from Christmas! I don’t know if other families celebrated Three Kings as seriously and creatively as our family did, but the Magi certainly held a special place in our childhood memories. Understandably, we loved the Three Kings more than the shepherds who went to worship Jesus. The gifts. The gifts made all the difference.
Logically, the next big question is – so what’s the significance of the three gifts? The Bible mentions them: gold, frankincense and myrrh.
“They (the wise men) 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 2:11)
Gold was a gift fit for a king. The Queen of Sheba brought large quantities of gold when she visited King David. Hence, gold was symbolic of Christ as the King of kings. Gold was used extensively in the temple. The inner doors, altar, table for the bread of presence, lamp stands, bowls, censers, utensils, implements, and the paneling on the walls of the Holy of Holies were made of pure gold or were gold-plated. Gold shines magnificently. It’s incorruptible. It won’t rust. “Shiny gold objects reflected radiantly the heavenly glory of the sun.” Gold was a symbol of royalty.
What about frankincense? It is a symbol of holiness and righteousness, therefore it was given to Jesus to recognize Him as a high priest of the Jews. Frankincense was a resin gathered from trees in South Arabia. When burned, it released a fragrant aroma, and was therefore used for worship in temples.
“The Holiness Code required incense to accompany every sacrifice offered by fire to the Lord (Leviticus 24:7). Its sweet, billowing smoke was thought to carry prayers up to heaven. It was burned in the temple to invoke and invite the presence of the Lord.”
Myrrh was a key ingredient in the mixture of spices to prepare bodies for burial. It was a symbol of Christ’s humanity – and the manner in which He would save His people: that He would die for them, as it is written in Isaiah 53:5. Myrrh was taken from the sap of a tree native to the near East.
In summary, the three gifts of the Magi to Jesus acknowledged three major aspects of Jesus’ identity: Gold for the King of kings. Frankincense for the High Priest. And myrrh to acknowledge Christ’s humanity – that He would give up His life so that all who believe in Him would be saved.
Do you acknowledge Jesus Christ in the same way that the Magi acknowledged and worshiped Him?
Most importantly, what gift will you give Jesus this Christmas?
Just think: of all the people we should give gifts to, HE should come first.
