Gifts with Meaning
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6, NKJV
When I was very young my father gave each of us four children $5 and took us Christmas shopping at the Five and Dime, a store similar to the Dollar Tree. I had five presents to buy. But with $5, I could spend an entire dollar on each gift!
I walked all around the store and found a fascinating little container that I thought my mother could use for just about anything. I bought it and wrapped it and placed it under the tree. On Christmas morning my older brothers laughed when Mother unwrapped her present … a pretty blue denture cup.
Over the years I’ve tried to give gifts with more meaning. Consider the gifts the wise men presented to Jesus. Their gifts held meaning rich with spiritual significance.
When [the wise men] saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:10-11, NKJV).
Jesus was likely two years old at the time, and these were not typical gifts for a toddler. But then, the magi had not been seeking a toddler. They’d sought a king, and when they found Jesus, they bowed and worshipped Him.
Gold signified that this Child would one day rule the nations as King of Kings.
Daniel 7:14 reads, Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom . . . His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.(NKJV)
Our God is sovereign. Every challenge, hardship, and heartbreak is known to Him, and He rules over them all.
Frankincense. Its rich fragrance filled the temple when the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to intercede on behalf of God’s people. With this gift the magi acknowledged the role Jesus would take on as our Great High Priest. According to Hebrews 7, His priesthood is everlasting, and His intercession on our behalf will never cease.
How blessed we are when others pray for us. Yet, what comfort to know Jesus pleads our cause day and night before our Father.
Then the magi opened the myrrh, and the shadow of a cross fell over the Child. The bitter resin used in embalming foretold the purpose for which this little one had been born. As the Lamb of God, Jesus would lay down His life to atone for the sins of the world. Through His sacrificial death, His burial and resurrection, this Child would one day pay in full the price of our redemption.
Behold, what manner of love … A love of extreme condescension. The order in which the gifts of the magi were listed reflect the descending humiliation of the Son of God. The King left His heavenly throne to become intercessor as High Priest, the mediator between God and man. He then laid Himself on the altar as the Sacrificial Lamb.
When my mother opened her new denture cup, her face communicated both appreciation for the gift, and affirmation for me, the giver. This season, and every day, let’s pause to express our gratitude to God, the supreme Giver of gifts with meaning.