Gifts From Afar
Every year on Christmas Day, thousands of people across the world rejoice in the birth of Christ. Many read passages from the Bible recounting the birth of Christ. The story is full of memorable images from there being no room in the inn to the angel of the Lord appearing before the shepherds with news of Christ's birth. You probably have your own favorite image. One that may come to mind is the Wise Men and the gifts they brought from afar-gold, frankincense and myrrh. But what exactly are the three gifts?
While you may not know much about frankincense and myrrh, you are probably very familiar with gold. A yellow metallic element, gold is rare, and no matter what form or shape it takes, it is highly prized. Gold is also durable and there are many passages in the Bible that reflect its ability to endure through almost anything including fire. In ancient times, it was customary for subjects to present their kings with gold as a sign of respect. By giving Christ gold, the Wise Men were honoring Christ as their king and paying their respects with the very best that they possessed.
Along with gold, the Wise Men brought Christ frankincense. While you may not hear much about frankincense now, back then it was a valuable resin that when burned in its purest form produced a beautiful white smoke that many believed to be a symbol of the prayers of the faithful. Frankincense is a yellow gum from various trees of the genus Boswellia found in Somalia and southern coastal Arabia. When the wood is cut, it oozes yellow drops of resin, which then harden and are pulled from the tree. When burned, frankincense gives off a sweet scent. In the Bible, it was used primarily in holy anointing oil.
In addition to gold and frankincense, Christ received the gift of myrrh from the Wise Men. Myrrh is similar to frankincense in that it is a yellowish-brown resin that oozes from a prickly shrub found in South Arabia and eastern Africa. In the Bible, it too was used in holy anointing oil, as well as for embalming, as a perfume and as a form of medicine. Unlike frankincense, however, myrrh is bitter to the taste and many believe that the gift represented Christ's human side and the suffering he would undergo later on earth.
Like gold, frankincense and myrrh were rare and expensive. Together, the three gifts represented the finest that the Wise Men could give and were symbolic of Christ. Gold represented His kingliness, frankincense His divinity and myrrh His manhood. With just three gifts, the Wise Men paid tribute to Christ as their king, god and savior.
Every year on Christmas Day, thousands of people across the world rejoice in the birth of Christ. Many read passages from the Bible recounting the birth of Christ. The story is full of memorable images from there being no room in the inn to the angel of the Lord appearing before the shepherds with news of Christ's birth. You probably have your own favorite image. One that may come to mind is the Wise Men and the gifts they brought from afar-gold, frankincense and myrrh. But what exactly are the three gifts?
While you may not know much about frankincense and myrrh, you are probably very familiar with gold. A yellow metallic element, gold is rare, and no matter what form or shape it takes, it is highly prized. Gold is also durable and there are many passages in the Bible that reflect its ability to endure through almost anything including fire. In ancient times, it was customary for subjects to present their kings with gold as a sign of respect. By giving Christ gold, the Wise Men were honoring Christ as their king and paying their respects with the very best that they possessed.
Along with gold, the Wise Men brought Christ frankincense. While you may not hear much about frankincense now, back then it was a valuable resin that when burned in its purest form produced a beautiful white smoke that many believed to be a symbol of the prayers of the faithful. Frankincense is a yellow gum from various trees of the genus Boswellia found in Somalia and southern coastal Arabia. When the wood is cut, it oozes yellow drops of resin, which then harden and are pulled from the tree. When burned, frankincense gives off a sweet scent. In the Bible, it was used primarily in holy anointing oil.
In addition to gold and frankincense, Christ received the gift of myrrh from the Wise Men. Myrrh is similar to frankincense in that it is a yellowish-brown resin that oozes from a prickly shrub found in South Arabia and eastern Africa. In the Bible, it too was used in holy anointing oil, as well as for embalming, as a perfume and as a form of medicine. Unlike frankincense, however, myrrh is bitter to the taste and many believe that the gift represented Christ's human side and the suffering he would undergo later on earth.
Like gold, frankincense and myrrh were rare and expensive. Together, the three gifts represented the finest that the Wise Men could give and were symbolic of Christ. Gold represented His kingliness, frankincense His divinity and myrrh His manhood. With just three gifts, the Wise Men paid tribute to Christ as their king, god and savior.
