In Matthew 2: 1, 2 and 11, “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.’
“On coming to the place where He was, 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.”
It took time for the Magi to reach Jesus. Scholars say He may have been two years of age by then. They sought for Him following a star, the display of heaven which declared where He lay. Two years. Two years to find the One spoken of with awe and wonder for thousands of years previously in scripture. Two years to find the One that Daniel in Babylon had taught his ancestors about, the promised One who would come to deliver and save His people one day. Two years to seek for Him themselves that they might offer Him their best, not a lot, but their best.
Gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold for His kingship, frankincense for His priesthood and myrrh for the prophet, for after all, He was called to be prophet, priest and king.
Gold that would always be a reminder of who Jesus was before He was God made man, Emmanuel. Gold that displayed His incorruptible value and worth.
And then there was frankincense, to remind Him that His life was not lived for Himself but as a service to His God, His Father... and a service to us, His people. A fragrance that would rise for all time before heaven’s throne.
And finally myrrh, a reminder that He had left the God-head to become a man who walked amongst men. A man subject to the joys and struggles that all mankind faces. Myrrh to remind Him that the ultimate end of those struggles would be death. A reminder that the immortal had put on mortality.
Wise men – Magi – wandered long to find the One they sought. May this be a reminder to us this Christmas season that the things we most value are not always easy to obtain or quickly achieved. Anything that has worth takes time to acquire.
And these wise men brought their best. This too should remind us all during this Christmas season that we should always be willing to give our best. It is not always necessary to give a lot but we should always strive to give our best.
And finally, these wise men came to bow before a child. This should be a reminder to us all this Christmas season to be humble and to consider how we can be a blessing to those around us. To never treat as less those who may appear less fortunate, but to give greater honour and credence to them.
These are all good thoughts to have at this time of year. It’s what makes Christmas special. But these are also good thoughts to have all year through and, like those wise men, find ourselves blessed and blessing all along our life’s journey until we finally reach the One we have been seeking.
From your friends at Parkland Christian Centre here in Canora to all of you, a very merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.
