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The glittering packages under the tree wait patiently for Christmas morning when excited children and happy adults will open them. Some of these gifts will be cherished for a lifetime, several will be exchanged at stores for something else, others forgotten by the end of the year and a few broken before the Christmas day comes to an end. The giving of Christmas gifts in a long tradition, spanning the ages. Its roots lie in the Christmas story itself.
The stars told of the birth of the messiah, a great king that would come to Israel. Wise men from distant lands knew about this king. They were scholars, scientist and astronomers. They studied and understood the prophesies of old. When the Christmas star shone in the sky they were not surprised. Soon they began their long journey from the East, following the star. They brought with them three carefully chosen gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The journey was long and hard. The magi continued on. They were not stopped by the weather. They were not discouraged by the distance. They were on a holy quest to visit the special child that had been promised from ages past. They wanted to honor him with their gifts.
God guided these wise men on their journey. The star pinpointed the exact place where the messiah was. It was not a palace, but a simple house in the town of Bethlehem, the home of a carpenter and his young family. Inside of that humble home the wise men presented their gifts to the young child.
Gold was a symbol of Jesus’ royalty.
Frankincense, known for its sacerdotal use, was a symbol of the child’s deity.
Myrrh, the death spice, was a symbol of his humanity.
The magi chose gifts to honor this special child. These gifts were not picked up on a last minute shopping trip to Wal-Mart on the way to Bethlehem. The wise men showed an understanding of who Christ was, and brought gifts appropriate to that office. Jesus is the King of Kings (I Timothy 6:15), the Son of God (Matthew 16:16), and the Word made Flesh (John 1:14). It was the thoughtful gifts of the wise men that showed their faith that he was more than an ordinary carpenter’s son.
If only we would give a little more thought to the gifts that we give this Christmas.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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