Three Men and a Baby
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v.1:
The Bible doesn't tell us who these wise men were, or where they came from.
There has been much speculation, but the only thing we know is that they came from the east. Most likely Arabia or Persia.
They were magi, not kings. By NT times, the term loosely covered a wide variety of men interested in dreams, astrology, magic, books thought to contain mysterious references to the future, and the like.
We don't actually know how many wise men there were. We suppose three because they brought three gifts.
We don't know exactly when they found Jesus. Per clues in Scripture, it was probably as late as two years after His birth.
They found a child in a house, not a babe manger.
Unlike the shepherds, the magi were not present at the birth of Jesus.
Unlike the shepherds, the magi were not present at the birth of Jesus.
Matthew 2:11
Matthew 2:11
And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Luke 2:16
Luke 2:16
And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
Herod tried to use the wise men to locate Jesus.
Herod tried to use the wise men to locate Jesus.
Herod, through the wise men, determined the time that the star appeared.
Matthew 2:7
Matthew 2:7
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.
Because of the timing given him by the wise men, Herod ordered the death of all male children two years and under.
Matthew 2:16
Matthew 2:16
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
The one thing we can be sure of, is that these men were not Jews, they were Gentiles.
v.11:
The gifts given by the wise men were very valuable, and were almost certainly the means by which Joseph sustained the family during their flight into Egypt.
But probably the most significant thing about the gifts, is how they spoke to the identity of Jesus.
The gifts of the wise men had meaning and value
The gifts of the wise men had meaning and value
GOLD for a King
GOLD for a King
No metal has been more frequently mentioned in OT writings than gold, and frequently the word "pure" and "refined" are associated with it, in reference to its use in the tabernacle.
Of course, Jesus is pure, perfect and without sin.
Hebrews 4:15
Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21
2 Corinthians 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Gold is symbolic of royalty, and is a gift fit for a king.
Jesus is not just king of the Jews, but the King of Kings.
Revelation 19:16
Revelation 19:16
And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
FRANKINCENSE for a Priest
FRANKINCENSE for a Priest
Frankincense was used by the priest in the tabernacle.
It was an ingredient used in the altar of incense.
Exodus 30:34
Exodus 30:34
And the Lord said to Moses: “Take sweet spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, and pure frankincense with these sweet spices; there shall be equal amounts of each.
The sweet smelling smoke represented prayers ascending to God.
Jesus is, of course, our High Priest, who makes intercession for us.
Hebrews 6:20
Hebrews 6:20
where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:25
Hebrews 7:25
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Frankincense was also sprinkled on the grain offering, just before it was placed on the altar.
Leviticus 2:1-2
Leviticus 2:1-2
‘When anyone offers a grain offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it. He shall bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests, one of whom shall take from it his handful of fine flour and oil with all the frankincense. And the priest shall burn it as a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.
The grain offering was not for atonement, but an act of worship.
The grain offering consisted of fine flour - flour that was beaten and refined to remove any imperfections.
It also included oil, which symbolizes both the Holy Spirit, and God's anointing.
Jesus is the Bread of Life, whose body was anointed, beaten and crucified.
As the High Priest, He made intercession, even while on the cross, and that intercession continues today.
He was the perfect "grain offering" and the object of our Worship.
MYRRH for one who was to die
MYRRH for one who was to die
Myrrh was placed on the cloths used to wrap bodies for burial to help prevent the smell of decay following death.
The Wise men presented this gift to Jesus as a representation that He would one day die.
The gift certainly seems to convey the fact that Jesus was born to die.
"Gold for a king, frankincense for a priest, myrrh for one that was to die – these were the gifts of the wise men, and, even at the cradle of Christ, they foretold that he was to be the true King, the perfect High Priest, and in the end the supreme Savior of men."- Unknown
There was one last gift given that day, and that gift was worship.
What an indictment it was upon the religious leaders of the day, that the birth of the Jewish Messiah was noted by Gentile foreigners!
Where were the scribes? Where were the chief priests?
They were in Herod’s palace seeking favor with the political power from a man who within a few short years would be dead.
While at the same moment the King of the entire universe, the King of Kings, had come to earth. Talk about misplaced priorities!
Are you going to be like those religious leaders this year, or is your Christmas centered on the worship of Christ?
Is God on your Christmas list this year?
You may not be able to give gold, frankincense or myrrh, but worship is the one gift that you can give to God this year.
God gave to you, what can you give to Him?
God gave to you, what can you give to Him?
This is summed up in the great commandment:
Matthew 22:37-38
Matthew 22:37-38
Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.
This is what God wants from you!
Make sure He is more than just a name on your list, make sure He IS your Christmas.