I think in our culture we take it for granted…I think we see it more as “old news”, than the good news.
What is the Gospel? You should have an answer to this question.
Matthew 2:1-12
What we know about the Wise Men:
They were probably rulers of some sort.
Not Jews, but devout followers of God.
They studied the stars, and took it seriously.
They traveled far to bless the Messiah. Not to be blessed by Him.
They gave him gifts. The BEST gifts. Gifts fit for a king! They knew that the new this good…required a sacrifice. News this good, was worth giving EVERYTHING to.
God can send help from the most unlikely places.
The Book of Isaiah, when describing Jerusalem’s glorious restoration, tells of nations and kings who will come and “bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:6).
In addition to the honor and status implied by the value of the gifts of the magi, scholars think that these three were chosen for their special spiritual symbolism about Jesus himself—gold representing his kingship, frankincense a symbol of his priestly role, and myrrh a prefiguring of his death and embalming—an interpretation made popular in the well-known Christmas carol “We Three Kings.”
The Wise Men’s gifts were:
Useful & Generous.
Are you THAT useful and generous to the church? To the vehicle God now uses to preach Jesus? If the church NEVER gave you ANYthing back--would you still serve it?
Precious & Valuable.
The GOOD NEWS is worth our BEST. Not your leftovers, not your reluctance. It’s worth your best!!
Evangelism is costly.
Respectful & worshipful.
We show our love for Him by giving our best gifts, by giving him our BEST worship, and by treating the Gospel with the REVERENCE it deserves.
Who are you praying for right now?
Who are you showing Jesus to right now?
Who are you preaching the Good News to, right now?
GOLD
Gold may have been the first metal that human beings encountered, because it can often be found in its pure natural state (for instance, nuggets in streams) rather than mixed in ore, which requires smelting. People have always valued gold for its luster, beauty, malleability, and resistance to corrosion and tarnish. These attributes also led ancient civilizations throughout the world to associate gold with royalty, immortality, and deity. It was first used in minted currency in the seventh century B.C.
Gold from the Wise Men has frequently been mentioned as possibly being very useful in helping Joseph and Mary pay for their flight to Egypt to escape Herod. (The other gifts could have been sold for a very good price as well.)
FRANKINCENSE
Originating in Arabia and northern Africa, frankincense is a dried resin (from trees of the genus Boswellia) used in perfumes and incense for thousands of years. Historically, frankincense was a highly valued commodity. When burned as incense, it was often valued for its aroma as well as for its reputed ability to disinfect and repel insects and other pests.
Frankincense was used in ancient Israelite temple worship as:
An ingredient in the perfume of the sanctuary (see Exodus 30:34).
An accompaniment to the meat offering, which was part of all burnt and peace offerings (see Leviticus 2:1, 16).
An accompaniment to the shewbread in the outer compartment of the tabernacle (or holy place) and burned as a memorial before the presence of the Lord (see Leviticus 24:7). Burning incense in the temple represented prayer (see Psalm 141:2).
MYRRH
Myrrh is also a dried resin from Arabia and northern Africa (from thorny shrubs and trees of the genus Commiphora) used in perfumes, incense, and medicines for thousands of years. The word comes from an Arabic word meaning “bitter.” It has been valued for its aroma as well as for its use as an antiseptic, analgesic (topical painkiller), and other medicinal qualities.
Myrrh was used in ancient Israelite temple worship as an ingredient in the holy anointing oil for consecrating priests, the tabernacle, and kings (see Exodus 30:23–25). It was used in the purification of Queen Esther (see Esther 2:12), and it was also used in embalming (see John 19:39).