Preparing for CHRISTmas

Matthew 2:1-12

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 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. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
 

Greetings, my Beloved,

I trust you are having a wonderful week. Aren't you enjoying this nice crisp, cool weather? I think winter, may just be approaching. I have been enthralled in my personal devotion time with the Lord - researching the ins and outs of the Old Testament. I find the Bible quite fascinating, don't you? And to think, that it was God inspired - the Word of God, continually living. It is amazing to think, at the beginning of time, God's plan was already at work. Any questions I have today - in our time, I can find it in the Bible. Anyways, we are on week 2 of our Advent Candle, the candle of preparation.

Verse 1:
Light the Advent Candle one
Now the waiting has begun
We have started on our way
Time to think of Christmas Day

Chorus:
Candle, candle, burning bright
Shining in the cold winter night
Candle, candle, burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christmas Light

Verse 2:
Light the Advent Candle two
Think of humble shepherds who
Filled with wonder at the sight
Of the child on Christmas night

 With the candle of preparation, it made me think of the Magi, and their gifts to Jesus. What do you think they signify? I've heard many a sermon on this very topic, and very different views on it. I'm not sure we really know exactly the significance of it, but the only source, I truly trust, is the word of God. Let's look at each of the gifts:

Gold

Now one of the common threads in all of the different perspectives of the significance of the gifts is the reason behind the gift of gold. Gold is one of the substances that has retained its value throughout the centuries. So, why gold? Good question. I believe the magi gave gold to show they truly believed Jesus was King. What better gift to give a King, than gold? And after all, Jesus is the King of all kings! (Revelation 1:5)

Frankincense

What I find fascinating are the gifts of Frankincense and Myrrh, mainly because these aren't objects of my everyday use. Apparently, they were pretty significant in the Bible. Frankincense was used in the holy incense in Exodus - the incense that could not be used for anything else, but to burn for God. (Exodus 30:34-38). In Revelations, our prayers are described as incense (Revelations 5:8; Revelations 8:3-5). Could maybe, the frankincense be a gift signifying that Jesus is God?

Myrrh

Did you know that Myrrh was used in the anointing oil for Priests? (Exodus 30:23). Also, it was used in Esther, as she was prepared to meet the king. She had six months of treatments with myrrh - talk about preparation! (Esther 2:12). According to the Gospel of Mark, they offered Jesus myrrh to drink during his crucifixion, but he refused (Mark 15:23). Then in John, upon Jesus' death, they used myrrh with his burial cloths. (John 19:39). Don't you find it fascinating that myrrh was present for his birth and his death? So why did the magi choose the gift of myrrh? It could be, to signify the priesthood of Jesus, as the priests were anointed with oil containing myrrh. Or maybe, just maybe, could it signify the death of Christ.

In Doug Stringer's book, Born to Die, he brought up a very good point regarding the gifts of the magi: "Even at His birth, Jesus was recognized and honored as royalty! And from His very birth, Jesus was presented with items to prepare Him for His death." As we celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Savior, in all of the festivities, the joys that new life brings us every day, let us not forget the sobering reason for the birth of Christ - He was born to die. His death is not one to take lightly, for it is with His death that we might live. Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice that we can be forgiven of our sins, and have the hope of everlasting life. Yet how often do we go throughout our day, not even giving Christ a portion of it, when He deserves all of it. I know I'm guilty. Jesus was being prepared for His death at His birth; likewise, at our new birth through Jesus, we are to die that we may be free from the sin in our lives. Romans 6:6-7 tells us, For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. So, what is our preparation? That we may continue to be made pure, holy, and blameless until the day of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23, May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is our preparation; we are to continually prepare ourselves to the coming of the Lord. What better way to remember this than the season in which we honor the birth of our savior. So, while we rejoice, let us be watchful and ready for the return of our Savior! Let us prepare for Christ during this CHRISTmas season!