Our Gift to Him
When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10,11
JJ was so proud of the gifts he selected for each of his family at his school’s Santa’s Workshop. His mom said she gave him $20 to do his Christmas shopping and when he got home from school with them, he expected to give them immediately to each recipient. He was very disappointed to learn he had to wait until Christmas day saying, “I can’t wait, everyone needs the perfect gift I got them now!”
The gifts the Magi brought to Jesus were the best they had to give. They brought gifts that "fit" the Child's identity. First, gold. Storehouses filled with gold were found in royal palaces. Gold was a gift fit for a king.
Second, incense, probably the resin of the terebinth tree. This incense was often burned with other spices during temple offerings. It was a gift fit for a priest.
Third, the gift of myrrh. Like incense, myrrh was from an aromatic resin. But it was hardly a gift you gave a child. Myrrh was symbolic of death. At his crucifixion, Jesus would be offered a drink of wine mixed with myrrh. At his death, Jesus' body would be wrapped in 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes.
The myrrh that the Magi laid before the Christ-child, then, was symbolic of an unexpected role. This Child would become the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. This Child is the Lamb of God who gave His life for our redemption.
Have you chosen the gift you'll give to Jesus? Based on His gift to us, the best gift to give him is our hearts, offered in humility and love.
Lord, in light of Jesus’ gift to us, that of Himself, may we give Him our hearts Amen.