What Gift Shall I Bring?

Matthew 2:1-12

Rev. Walter M. Bosman Jr. ©2007

About two to four years after the birth of Jesus some men known as “Magi” came from the East (the area of Iraq or Iran) following a star in the heavens to find the Christ Child. According to Scripture, having found Him, they “worshipped Him and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” These gifts were most appropriate as expressions of the very essence of just who Jesus Christ is. Today we are going to look a little closer at the “Gifts of the Magi” and also attempt to answer the question, “What gift shall I bring to Jesus this year?”

The first gift from the Magi mentioned is the gift of gold. This gift honors Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Gold has always been looked at as a symbol of great wealth, value, and power. It is a gift fit for royalty, and is indeed fitting for Jesus Christ, as He is the Supreme Sovereign.

Hear these passages from Scripture regarding Jesus:

So we ask, “What gift shall I bring to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings?” How about our allegiance and obedience? As our King Jesus deserves that. No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16:13) Just as a woman who is 90% faithful to her husband is really not faithful at all, so there is no such thing as part-time loyalty to Jesus Christ. Jesus is called “King” or “Lord” 747 times in the New Testament, and as such, He demands our subjection to His authority. He is Lord of all, and the faith He demands involves the unconditional surrender of our lives, our whole lives, to Him. Understand this: Jesus does not give eternal life in His Kingdom to those whose hearts remain set against Him. Hear His words in Luke 6:46, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’, and do not the things I say?”

The next gift of the Magi mentioned is frankincense, which is a gift that honors Jesus as the Holy One. Frankincense is mentioned in the Bible 20 times. It was most often used as holy incense. The ceremonial incense of the Jews was a mixture composed of four “sweet scents” of which pure frankincense was one. These were pounded together in equal proportions. Frankincense was also part of the meat offering and was presented with the showbread every Sabbath Day in the Temple. Frankincense was stored with other valuable spices in a great chamber of the House of God in Jerusalem.

And the priest shall burn the memorial of it; (part) of the beaten corn thereof, and (part) of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof. It is an offering made by fire unto the Lord. (Leviticus 2:16) So the Magi’s gift of frankincense speaks of Christ as the Incarnate Holy One. For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulders; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name, Emmanuel, which is interpreted ‘God With Us’. (Matthew 1:23)

So we ask, “What gift shall I bring to the Holy One, God Incarnate?” We owe Him our worship. We owe Him our praise. We owe Him our adoration! That is what the Magi gave Him so many years ago. For before they gave Him their gifts of gold, incense and myrrh, scripture says, “And when they were come into the house they saw the young child with Mary, His mother, and they fell prostrate on the ground and worshipped Him!” (Matthew 2:11)

We too should heed the words of Psalm 95:6, “O come, let us bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”

Finally, the Magi gave the young Christ Child the gift of myrrh. This gift honors Jesus as the Sacrificial Lamb of God. Myrrh is an aromatic gum resin obtained from several trees and shrubs throughout the Middle and Far East, most often used in perfume. Even before Jesus was born, myrrh was one of the most sought after and valuable items in the world. It is mentioned in Scripture more than 20 times, and was first mentioned as a principal ingredient in the holy anointing oil in Exodus 30:23. Myrrh was used to anoint every part of the Tabernacle in the wilderness.

Also, in ancient times, myrrh was used in the embalming process, to preserve mummies. The infant child Jesus was born to die. Jesus was born to be the bearer of our sin. Jesus was born to be the Sacrificial Lamb of God, who would take away all of the sins of those who believe in and on Him, that those people might gain eternal life in God’s Kingdom of Heaven.

That’s right. Jesus was born for me. Jesus was born for you. So the question we need ask ourselves is, “What gift shall I bring to my Sacrificial Lamb, my Savior?”

We owe Jesus our very lives; all of our lives; every part of our lives! Jesus suffered and died for our sins and is worthy to receive power, riches, honor, glory, worship and praise. Jesus is worthy to be believed. Jesus is worthy to be trusted with our all, for all and before all. Jesus is worthy to be loved more than any other. Jesus is worthy to be followed wherever He may lead us, through good times or times we consider not so good. Jesus is worthy to be preferred to ease, pleasure, wealth, health, or anything and everything. Jesus is worthy to be our example, our confidant, our counselor, our King, our Lord, and our all. Jesus is worthy of all He requires of us, of all that we can give.

So, what gift will you bring to Jesus this year?

As we leave here this morning, let’s each take time to ask ourselves, “What gift shall I bring to Jesus the Christ this year?” Amen.