Christmas is all about, or at least it should be, Jesus Christ. Things that are said over and over again are often times considered cliché, but much of the time they are deepest truths: “Jesus is the reason for the season”.
Yes, there’s plenty of controversy amongst Christians about whether or not we should celebrate Christmas, and both sides have valid arguments. In this essay, I’d like us to sit back and just get the focus off of the holiday and onto Him. The baby Jesus received three gifts, and they clearly represented who He was, and what He came here for.
Matthew 2:11, “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
The first present Jesus received was gold. This represents several things, from His deity to His kingship. In Isaiah 9:6 the Bible says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
The child born is the human side; the Son given is the divine part. Jesus came to rule. This is what it means when it says that the government shall be upon His shoulder. Regardless of your theology or eschatology, Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We need to let Him rule in our hearts today, but one day, whether you believe it's in the Millennium or the New Heavens and New Earth, Jesus Christ will rule this Earth and everything will be set right. There will be no such thing as world hunger, crime, disease, hurt, pain, death, sorrow, betrayal, grief… for the last enemy that shall be defeated is death.
Secondly, Jesus received frankincense. This is a gum or tree resin that is used to create incense, and it was used in worship. This represents how Jesus Christ is our High Priest, and it lets us see His human side. He represents us to God the Father. He is a High Priest who was tempted in every area of sin, but came out spotless. We require no other mediator; He is our advocate to God the Father. Our High Priest can understand us, the Bible says He is “touched” by the “feelings of our infirmities”. Not only did God make you, He understands you because he’s felt the pain and struggles you go through like no one else.
Lastly, He received myrrh. Myrrh comes from the Hebrew “murr” or “maror”, which means "bitter." It was used for embalming dead bodies. What a strange gift to give to baby! Ladies, this would be the equivalent of another lady bringing you a small coffin to your baby shower! It’s practically offensive.
But no present could represent Jesus better, than something that was associated with bitter death. He came to die. This was His last present, and it represents Jesus Christ as our suffering Savior. It also shows Him to be a Prophet, He represented God to us. Thankfully, the story doesn’t end with Jesus dying, and how wonderful it is that one day He will return! What a glorious hope we have in His soon return!
Titus 2:13-14, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
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