It's almost Christmas!!! I love this time of year --- not for the part about the presents ---- but for the part about the present - you know, the right here & now! The anticipation of being with the people you love, for good food & good times and the chance to, once again, let my creative juices flow and pull out all the stops in decorating ---- getting ready for the big day. The lead up is what it's all about for me --- listening to my favorite Christmas music 24 hrs a day, reading special holiday stories and daily, being reminded to focus on the BIG present --- and because HE really IS the "Reason for the Season", I like to be sure that in times of laughter and getting to know others deeper and celebrating life, that we talk about the really important stuff too.
I love words --- I love that some words are spelled the same, but mean something entirely different .... I know God made me to love words .... I love how when words are put in just the right order, they can speak straight to your heart. Early last week, when I was looking for some sort of 'story' to share, I came across a number of descriptive accounts regarding the Three Wise Men, that spoke to my heart.
I love that in much of scripture, God hides interesting detail. Not 'hides', as in ---- no one can ever find it --- but almost as if He puts information there - just under the surface - so that if we're willing to dig a little deeper, we get the reward of fuller understanding .... and also, I think, to show the depth of Who HE is .....
The Three Wise Men found Jesus after following the 'star'. They didn't know exactly what they'd find at the end of their journey, but fully expected it to be worthy of the gifts they bore -- gifts fit for a King -- as recorded in Matthew 2:11 ... Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Three gifts - each holding a real 'present' value and a prophetic 'future' value.
They brought GOLD. Gold was a symbol of kingship, power and virtue. It represented, then as now, financial security. It's obvious that gold would have been beneficial due to the fact the Holy Family was poor. Isn't it amazing that God provided the means necessary for a long and expensive journey into Egypt, and to sustain Joseph, Mary and Jesus in a foreign land where they would live for an extended time?
They brought FRANKINCENSE. This was the priestly gift, a type of incense, and was used in religious ceremonies to give honor to that which was considered holy. It was one of the elements used in holy anointing (Exodus 30:34) ......and was also used to keep the bugs away - kind of like lighting a 'cat-tail'. This sweet smelling resin comes as the result of the tree's woundedness and pain..... hmmmmmmm, slightly prophetic I'd say ..... foretelling that the ultimate sacrifice Jesus would give would be a holy offering.
When we can worship God in the midst of our sorrow .... our brokenness.... then it is a sweet smelling offering. That's why David said, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Psalms 51:1 Frankincense signified his Priestly office -- his re -'presenting' us!
They brought MYRRH. Both frankincense and myrrh have healing properties, but myrrh was also used to embalm the dead because it had superior preservative qualities. This gift symbolized Christ's death on the cross and the embalming to come after. This was the hard, the bitter gift. It was a symbol that Christ would be willing to do the hardest task that God would call him to do, that He came to live with us as a man and die for us.
Interesting that neither frankincense or myrrh are available until the trees which produce the sap are cut (wounded) and allowed to "bleed' or pour out their offering.... and yet, they contain intrinsic healing properties, that only become apparent and available after enduring the devastation.
Together, the Wise Men brought gifts representing the three roles God intended for Jesus the Messiah:
Our King ----- Our God ----- Our Saviour
Herod used his knowledge of Jesus' burth to attempt to kill him; the Wise Men used their knowledge to find Him and worship Him. Their worship involved giving of themselves; their time, their treasure, and their honor.
Like them, when we truly come to Jesus to worship Him, we must be willing to offer our time, our treasure, our honor ...... ourselves.
