THE GIFTS
In the Book of Matthew, we are told of the wise men who came from the East to Jerusalem to worship the King of the Jews. This may have been as long as two years after Christ’s birth for the Bible states that: “…when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him…” (Matthew 2:11). There was no longer a manger nor a babe or infant but a child in a house. In any case the worship was the same - “…And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”( Matthew 2:11)
What strange gifts to bring to a child and what use would He have for such items? At the time, He probably would be more interested in some toys than in these symbolic gifts. However, this is what the men from the East brought Him - gold to symbolize riches and lordship; Frankincense, a spice used in religious ceremony, to indicate a priestly future; and myrrh, another aromatic substance most often used to prepare a body for burial.
It seems to be apparent that the non-Jewish men from the East had more insight into what was to develop than did the Jewish leaders themselves. After all, did not Herod request the wise men to bring him news of the child’s whereabouts instead of his own people?
But there is still another aspect to this story which should have been known to the Jewish authorities. About 700 years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah wrote these words concerning the second coming of the Lord when the world will be great distress. “…The darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise over you…and the Gentiles shall come to your light…Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side….All those from Sheba shall come; They shall bring gold and incense, and they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord…” (Isaiah 60: 2,3,4,5,6). Sheba refers to an area in South Arabia (the East) and incense such as frankincense but notice no mention of myrrh. This is because when the Lord comes again there will be no suffering and no further death, He will come only as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
About 700 years before Christ’s birth, Isaiah gave this prophecy as to what would happen when people came to worship the Lord, but the fulfillment really began when a child, born in a manger in Bethlehem, was honoured by those from the East with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Another small detail, but still something to think about.
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