Christmas in the Search

The Gifts of the Wise Men: What They Reveal About Jesus
Christmas gifts have been a beloved tradition for centuries, but have you ever wondered how it all began? The practice of gift-giving during Christmas traces back much further than the jolly figure of St. Nicholas. It finds its roots in one of the most significant moments in human history - the visit of the wise men to the baby Jesus.

Who Were the Wise Men and Why Did They Come?
The wise men, also called the Magi, were scholars from eastern lands who studied astronomy and ancient prophecies. They had observed a special star and believed it signaled the birth of a promised king in Judea. There was a widespread belief at the time that a king would be born who would claim universal tribute and usher in an era of peace.

When they arrived in Jerusalem, they asked King Herod where the newborn king of the Jews could be found. This question deeply disturbed Herod, who considered himself the king of the Jews. After consulting with Jewish religious leaders about the prophecies, Herod learned that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem and sent the wise men there with deceptive instructions to report back to him.

What Do the Three Gifts Mean?
The gifts brought by the wise men - gold, frankincense, and myrrh - were not random choices. Each gift revealed something profound about who Jesus was and why He came.

Gold: Jesus as King of Kings
Gold has always been considered a gift fit for royalty across all cultures and times. When the wise men presented gold to the Christ child, they were acknowledging Him as the promised King prophesied in Scripture.

Jesus was born in the lineage of King David, Israel's most revered ruler. The prophet Isaiah had foretold: "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

However, Jesus didn't come to establish an earthly kingdom as many expected. When He stood trial before Pilate, Jesus declared, "My kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my kingdom is not of this world."

Jesus is the King of all kings and Lord of all lords - not just a political ruler, but the sovereign ruler over all creation for all eternity.

Frankincense: Jesus as Our Great High Priest
Frankincense was a precious resin used specifically in the incense burned in the most holy place of the temple. Only the Jewish high priest could enter this sacred space, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement, to offer sacrifices and prayers for the people.

The high priest served as the mediator between God and humanity. If someone wanted to approach God, they had to go through the high priest who would intercede on their behalf.

The gift of frankincense revealed that Jesus would become our Great High Priest. Unlike the earthly priests who had to repeatedly offer animal sacrifices, Jesus entered heaven itself with His own blood as the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice.

The Book of Hebrews tells us: "So then we have a great high priest who has entered heaven, Jesus, the Son of God... This high priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all the same testings we do, yet he did not sin."

When Jesus died on the cross, the massive veil in the temple that separated people from God's presence was supernaturally torn open. This meant that anyone could now approach God directly through Jesus - no earthly mediator required.

Myrrh: Jesus as the Sacrifice for Our Sins
Myrrh was perhaps the most surprising and mysterious gift to bring to a baby. This bitter resin was primarily known as an embalming fluid used by the Egyptians to preserve bodies for burial. It would be like bringing formaldehyde to a modern baby shower.

Why would the wise men bring an embalming fluid to celebrate a birth? Because the purpose of Jesus' coming wasn't found in His birth, but in His death. Jesus was born to die so that we might live.

The gift of myrrh revealed that Jesus would be the sacrifice who died for our sins. When Jesus was crucified, Nicodemus brought about 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes to prepare His body for burial, fulfilling the foreshadowing of this gift.

Jesus died because our sins separate us from God. Romans 3 tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of God's glorious standard." No amount of good works, church attendance, or charitable giving can pay for our sins. Only Jesus' blood and sacrifice can wash away our guilt and restore our relationship with God.

The Fourth Gift: Themselves
Beyond the three physical gifts, the wise men offered something even more precious - themselves. The Scripture records that "they bowed down and worshiped him." These great men from distant lands recognized Jesus not just as an earthly king, but as God Himself worthy of worship.

Notice that when they met with King Herod, they didn't worship him. But when they encountered the Christ child, they immediately fell down in worship, giving themselves completely to Him.

How Do We Receive God's Gift?
Jesus is God's gift to us, but like any gift, it must be received to be truly ours. Eternal life is the gift God offers, and that life is found in His Son. As 1 John 5 states: "Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God's Son does not have life."

To receive this gift of eternal life, we must:

 Acknowledge that we have sinned and are separated from God

Believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sins

Confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord

Receive His forgiveness and the gift of eternal life

The Bible promises: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Life Application
This Christmas season, consider what gifts you're bringing to Jesus. The wise men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but most importantly, they brought themselves in worship.

This week, challenge yourself to offer Jesus the gift of your complete surrender. Just as the wise men bowed down and worshiped Him, ask yourself: Am I truly giving Jesus my whole heart, or am I holding back parts of my life from His lordship?

Questions for Reflection:

 Have I truly received God's gift of salvation through Jesus Christ?

What areas of my life am I still trying to control instead of surrendering to Jesus as King?

How can I worship Jesus more fully this Christmas season, following the example of the wise men?

Am I living as someone who recognizes Jesus as King of kings, Great High Priest, and perfect sacrifice?

The greatest Christmas gift isn't found under a tree - it's found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. He came as a baby in Bethlehem, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again to offer us eternal life. That's a gift worth celebrating not just at Christmas, but every day of the year.