"On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11 (NIV)
Let our wonderful Advent season continue! I pray that this time continues to be a blessing for all of you. As we explore the gifts that the kings brought to Jesus, it amazes me how, as with everything else our Dear Lord does for us, each gift has a significant meaning to Jesus and the reason He came down to be with all of us.
As we noted, Gold was brought because these wise men, these kings, knew that gold was a gift fit for a great King. Frankincense was a gift fit for the highest of priests. Both of these gifts certainly had great meaning, the greatest of Kings and the greatest of Priests was being born. How Gaspar and Melchior must have felt as they bowed down to this little baby.
The last, and what I believe is the greatest of gifts, came from Balthazar. He brought forward the gift that would be the true reason why Jesus was born. Balthazar brought the Myrrh. Myrrh, for those of you that may not know, is a perfume that is used put over bodies after they have died. This certainly seems like an odd gift from a king like Balthazar. Why would someone bring something like Myrrh to a new baby?
As we know, that gift was to signify the incredible suffering and eventual death our Dear Lord would endure. I wonder what Mary was feeling as she held he baby. I wonder if she knew the reason why she would have received such a gift. Although the gift of Myrrh may have been odd, it certainly was the gift that meant the most. To look back at the birth of Jesus now and put the pieces of the puzzle together, Myrrh has incredible meaning to our salvation. Myrrh was a fitting gift for Jesus, Jesus our Savior.
Knowing that the baby that was born in the most humblest of ways would become the savior of the world brings new meaning to our Advent season. Balthazar must have known that Myrrh would bring great meaning to the first Christmas - and certainly to our Christmas season today.
Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar - Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. These incredible gifts that were brought from kings/wise men to the greatest of Kings, Jesus. As those men laid their gifts to Jesus, they didn't just "give" the gifts, they bowed down to the King of Kings. Everyone who was at that first Christmas had such an important part in the story of Jesus' birth. The kings provided the symbolic gifts that helped to tell the story.
Next week, we will explore the King who brought the greatest gift!!
Dearest God - it amazes me how you orchestrated this most wonderful story of Jesus' birth. Every person involved in this miraculous event had such meaning. This includes the three kings (wise men) that brought the wonderful gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. May we more clearly understand their purpose in the Christmas story - and may we always wonder at the happiness it brings. Amen
As we noted, Gold was brought because these wise men, these kings, knew that gold was a gift fit for a great King. Frankincense was a gift fit for the highest of priests. Both of these gifts certainly had great meaning, the greatest of Kings and the greatest of Priests was being born. How Gaspar and Melchior must have felt as they bowed down to this little baby.
The last, and what I believe is the greatest of gifts, came from Balthazar. He brought forward the gift that would be the true reason why Jesus was born. Balthazar brought the Myrrh. Myrrh, for those of you that may not know, is a perfume that is used put over bodies after they have died. This certainly seems like an odd gift from a king like Balthazar. Why would someone bring something like Myrrh to a new baby?
As we know, that gift was to signify the incredible suffering and eventual death our Dear Lord would endure. I wonder what Mary was feeling as she held he baby. I wonder if she knew the reason why she would have received such a gift. Although the gift of Myrrh may have been odd, it certainly was the gift that meant the most. To look back at the birth of Jesus now and put the pieces of the puzzle together, Myrrh has incredible meaning to our salvation. Myrrh was a fitting gift for Jesus, Jesus our Savior.
Knowing that the baby that was born in the most humblest of ways would become the savior of the world brings new meaning to our Advent season. Balthazar must have known that Myrrh would bring great meaning to the first Christmas - and certainly to our Christmas season today.
Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar - Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. These incredible gifts that were brought from kings/wise men to the greatest of Kings, Jesus. As those men laid their gifts to Jesus, they didn't just "give" the gifts, they bowed down to the King of Kings. Everyone who was at that first Christmas had such an important part in the story of Jesus' birth. The kings provided the symbolic gifts that helped to tell the story.
Next week, we will explore the King who brought the greatest gift!!
Dearest God - it amazes me how you orchestrated this most wonderful story of Jesus' birth. Every person involved in this miraculous event had such meaning. This includes the three kings (wise men) that brought the wonderful gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. May we more clearly understand their purpose in the Christmas story - and may we always wonder at the happiness it brings. Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment