12 Days of Christmas - The Real Story (Day 10) - The Wise Men Find the Infant
Matthew 2:9-11
Having seen the star above them and going in front of them on their short trip from Jerusalem, the wise men find themselves approaching the little town of Bethlehem. It was not very common for people of great stature or importance to visit the town, so this would be a significant event for the locals.
Traveling on the solid roman built road topped with stone blocks, the wise men brought their caravan with them. How they found the exact location of the home of Joseph and Mary and Jesus, we don’t know for sure. Scripture makes it seem almost as if they used the triangulation of the star to find the exact place where the young child was.1
They came into the house, perhaps the same house that Joseph and Mary had been staying in when they first arrived at Bethlehem, and perhaps a different house that Joseph could now afford to rent or buy. Regardless, for the time, this would have been a very ordinary house. Just a home in a neighborhood, not spectacular or special in any way at first glance. But as they entered this simple home, these wise men saw something they had come over 500 miles to see: an Infant and his mother.
And when they saw the Child with Mary His mother, they fell down, and worshiped Him.2 The reaction was not to lift their hands or jump for joy, it was not to shout or sing or rejoice. Instead, the sight of God brought them to their knees. I think we often underestimate the power of the presence of God, and we minimize it by our worship of Him in that we lack the recognition of the awe He deserves.
As these wise men opened their treasures, they presented 3 specific gifts to the newborn King. These were very deliberate and symbolic gifts. Each had an important significance.
Gold
Gold in ancient times represented wealth and royalty in even more important ways than it does today. When a king would visit another kingdom, it was customary to bring gifts of gold for the other king, as we see when the queen of Sheba visits king Solomon.3 It is also an important material in the temple, used to overlay all the vessels in the holy place and in the Holy of Holies.
The wise men understood Jesus to be the King.
Frankincense
Frankincense produces a beautiful smell when burned. It was used in perfumes and incense in ancient and modern times. In the temple, it was a core ingredient in the incense4 that was only to be used in the worship of God.5
The wise men understood Jesus to be God.
Myrrh
Myrrh is a medicinal perfume. In its oil form, it is often used for anointing or for preparing bodies for burial. In the temple, myrrh was used as an ingredient in the anointing oil for the sanctuary and for the priests.6 This gives us two potential purposes or meanings as a gift for Jesus. First, it could mean that they knew He was the Great High Priest, and second, it could mean that they knew He was born to die.
The wise men understood Jesus to be the High Priest.
In 3 days from today, we will all gather around a Christmas tree with our families and present gifts to each other. We did our best to pick the most meaningful gift for each family member we could think of. We took our time to make sure it was wrapped or placed in a nice gift bag, because we want to express our love and gratitude for each person who has gathered around on Christmas day.
Great thought had gone into the selection and preparation of these 3 gifts for Jesus. What thought have we given to what we will give to Jesus this year? Will you give Him your time, as He is the Creator of time? Will you give Him your talents as He has gifted you with each of your skills? Will you give Him your money as He has provided for your needs? Will you give Him your heart as He has given you His life?
Mat 2:9 KJV - When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
Mat 2:11 KJV - 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.
1Ki 10:10 KJV - And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
Exo 30:34 KJV - 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]:
Exo 30:38 KJV - Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.
Exo 30:23 KJV - Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred [shekels], and of sweet cinnamon half so much, [even] two hundred and fifty [shekels], and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty [shekels],
Exo 30:26 KJV - And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,
Exo 30:29 KJV - And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.
Exo 30:30 KJV - And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that [they] may minister unto me in the priest's office.