After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,
“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?
We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary,
and they bowed down and worshiped him.
Then they opened their treasures and presented him
with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:1-2, 10-11
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
A Blessed Christmas to you and your loved ones!
Praise the Lord!
Today, we remember and celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
His birth confirms to us that God is with us always.
His birth reminds us that we are never alone, nor will we ever be helpless or hopeless – for He is our present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1), and the Rock of our Salvation (2 Samuel 22:47)!
His birth assures us of God’s infinite love for us – for Christ came to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29)
Are you serious about Christmas?
For those of us who are indeed serious about Christmas, we embrace the Christ of Christmas by celebrating with our church families in corporate praise and worship, and with our own families over Christmas meals and the giving of gifts.
The giving of gifts.
Now, this is certainly one aspect of Christmas that has been extensively embraced by the world.
When we celebrate a birthday, we would accompany our birthday wishes with a gift to the person whose birth we are celebrating.
What is curious about Christmas today is that we freely exchange gifts with one another, but almost completely forget the most significant person of whom this season is really about.
The world tells us…never mind the Christ of Christmas; and here we observe; that for just the idea of the season alone sufficiently entices capitalistic machineries all the world over to indulge consumerist impulses to the point that the holiday has now taken a life of its own without the need to remember the Christ of Christmas.
Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ!
There is simply no other reason for the season.
Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that we should cease this gift-giving tradition.
It is a good tradition that expresses our love and gratitude for one another.
However as Christians, we must regard our gift to Christ above and before all others.
For those of us who still read the Bible, we would know that the origin of giving gifts during Christmas is really from the example of the Magi who followed the Star in search of the baby Jesus. Of course, they did not arrive empty handed – for they came bearing gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.
If you are thinking right now, “I would really like to be serious about Christmas… But what gift can I get for Jesus Christ?”
Great question.
I understand that it is hard to get gold, frankincense and myrrh in this day and age – even with worldwide online shopping. And even if you can get your hands on some of that stuff, it is tough to get it delivered to where Christ is today. (Note: In case you have forgotten our coverage of the Apostles’ Creed, Christ is ‘seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.’)
So, let’s get serious about Christmas – by first getting serious about understanding the biblical narrative regarding the Magi’s relentless quest for the Christ-child.
“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?
We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary,
and they bowed down and worshiped him.
Understand this.
Before the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, the Magi have already presented a gift to Jesus far more valuable than anything this world had to offer - their irrepressible desire – in evident disregard for their own lives – to worship Christ the King.
Observe their unshakable resolve and single-mindedness in this quest.
Nothing could hold them back, and they held nothing back.
For two years they traveled upon their initial sighting of the Star.
Two years.
Anything could have happened to them during their long and treacherous journey in those two years searching of the ‘King of the Jews’.
They braved the constant threat of adverse weather, wild animals, and robbers who would murder senselessly just to relieve them of their possessions.
In short, the Magi risked their lives to worship the baby Jesus, whom they truly believed to be God.
These Wise Men were thoroughly convicted that risking their lives through all the possible perils of such an arduous journey was most worthwhile; as their deepest desire - encapsulated in those two years of their lives dedicated to seeking the Christ-child - was fulfilled when they laid eyes on the baby Jesus.
What followed next, was the sacred act that they had waited all their lives for – they bowed down and worshiped God who took on flesh and came into the world.
The Magi gave their lives to worship Jesus Christ.
That was their foremost gift to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Their lives, and their worship.
Now, that’s being serious about Christmas.
Like the magi, if you want to be serious about Christmas, are you prepared to give your life and your worship to Jesus?
I pray that this Christmas, you will find time to give Jesus your foremost and most precious gift – a life of worship unto Him.
In worshiping Christ, Matthew 2 tells us that the Magi presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Understand that all three gifts were inappropriate – albeit on different levels – for commemorating the birth of a child. However, a deeper understanding into the significance of these gifts would reveal to us the necessary aspects of an authentic life of worship.
Gold.
The Magi recognized Christ as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
Gold is not only the metal of kings; it represents the most precious things of our lives.
And what can be more precious to us in life, than life itself?
Give that to Jesus.
Don't keep the gold to yourself. Pride says to us that gold is best served in our own hands; our lives are best served in our own hands. We don't need God to provide.
This is such a lie.
Present Christ with your gold this Christmas. Surrender your life to Christ, and let Him turn your life to gold – the best, most fulfilled life you can ever hope to live.
Frankincense.
The Magi recognized Christ as the great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), the only worthy Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5).
Frankincense is a sacred substance used only in Jewish temple worship, and used rightfully by the priests. It is certainly not appropriate as a gift, period, much less a gift for a child.
Frankincense represents our worship and relationship with God.
Never keep the Frankincense to yourself.
To do that would be to believe that you may approach God in worship on your own accord. This is a mistake.
Give your Frankincense to Jesus.
Acknowledge that only through the divine mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ – as our Great High Priest - would we then be able to come before God in prayer and worship.
Don't keep the Frankincense to yourself. Pride says to us that Frankincense is best served in our own hands. We may be our own priests. We may worship God through our own mediation. We don't need God to provide. This is such a lie.
Present Christ with your Frankincense this Christmas. Surrender your life to Christ. Let Him be your High Priest and Mediator, and you will experience true worship of the One, True, Living God.
Myrrh.
The least appropriate gift for a child.
In the days of Jesus, Myrrh is used as the key embalming substance for the preservation of corpses.
The Magi recognized that Christ is the perfect lamb of God who will one day suffer and die for the redemption of all mankind (John 1:29, 1 Peter 1:19).
Thus for this significance, the gift of Myrrh was as prophetic as it was symbolic.
Myrrh represents preservation after death has taken place.
Never keep the Myrrh to yourself.
To do that would be to believe that although you are already dead due to sin, because of the Myrrh in your life, you have the ability to self-preserve apart from God. This is as grave a mistake as it is a lie.
We have zero ability – and zero probability – at self-preservation.
Give your Myrrh to Christ.
Surrender and repent of every effort at self-preservation to the Lord, and acknowledge that only Christ has the power to preserve, and prosper, your life.
In fact, when you give your Myrrh to Christ, He would give you the unction to die with Him - ‘to consider yourself dead to sin’- in order that you may live with Him, and be forever free from sin and death. (Romans 6:8)
Present your Myrrh to Christ this Christmas and stop all this nonsense about self-preservation. Without Christ, we are doomed to an eternal death – which is the wages of our sins. Rather, be ‘buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.’ (Romans 6:4)
Gold.
Frankincense.
Myrrh.
Withholding nothing, the Magi gave their lives to worship Jesus Christ.
That was their foremost gift to the Lord Jesus Christ.
This Christmas, I pray that you would do likewise.
Present your life before Christ today.
Withhold nothing; not your Gold, not the Frankincense, and certainly not the Myrrh.
Seek Him. Recognize Him. Draw close to Him.
Let nothing repress you, nor challenge your resolve.
Persevere.
Until you come face to face in worship of our the Lord Jesus Christ - the King of kings, our Great High Priest, and the perfect Lamb of God.
Now, that’s being serious about Christmas.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
We are profoundly and eternally grateful for sending Your Son, and our Lord, Jesus Christ, into the world to redeem mankind from sin and its power.
Holy Spirit, please teach us to be serious in our celebration and remembrance of this sacred event – Christmas.
Please grant us courage and wisdom to live a life of worship unto King Jesus Christ.
May this Christmas season be a season of reflection and gratitude for Your goodness, Your Salvation, and Your destiny for us in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
This Christmas, I present my gold to you.
I repent of the sin that makes me think that my life is best served under my own wisdom and ability, and therefore, I have no need for Christ in my life.
Lord Jesus, all that I hold dear, I surrender into Your hands.
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that you are the King of kings and the Lord of Lords.
This Christmas, I present my frankincense to you.
I repent of the sin that makes me believe that I may facilitate my own worship of the living God.
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that You are the Great High Priest and the only Mediator between God and man.
This Christmas, I present my myrrh to you.
I repent of the sin that gives me the unbiblical paradigm of self-preservation.
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that You are the perfect Lamb of God send to suffer and die on the Cross for our redemption; and that only You have the power to new life.
Like the Magi who traversed every hardship and threats in their resolve to seek You, recognize You and draw close to You, may I spend this Christmas season doing likewise.
Holy Spirit, grant me a steadfast spirit. Let nothing repress me, nor challenge my resolve to come face to face with You, my Lord Jesus Christ - the King of kings, our Great High Priest, and the perfect Lamb of God.
Lord Jesus, I worship You!
We thank you and pray all these in the Name of our Lord, Saviour and Coming King, Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?
We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary,
and they bowed down and worshiped him.
Then they opened their treasures and presented him
with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:1-2, 10-11
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
A Blessed Christmas to you and your loved ones!
Praise the Lord!
Today, we remember and celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
His birth confirms to us that God is with us always.
His birth reminds us that we are never alone, nor will we ever be helpless or hopeless – for He is our present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1), and the Rock of our Salvation (2 Samuel 22:47)!
His birth assures us of God’s infinite love for us – for Christ came to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29)
Are you serious about Christmas?
For those of us who are indeed serious about Christmas, we embrace the Christ of Christmas by celebrating with our church families in corporate praise and worship, and with our own families over Christmas meals and the giving of gifts.
The giving of gifts.
Now, this is certainly one aspect of Christmas that has been extensively embraced by the world.
When we celebrate a birthday, we would accompany our birthday wishes with a gift to the person whose birth we are celebrating.
What is curious about Christmas today is that we freely exchange gifts with one another, but almost completely forget the most significant person of whom this season is really about.
The world tells us…never mind the Christ of Christmas; and here we observe; that for just the idea of the season alone sufficiently entices capitalistic machineries all the world over to indulge consumerist impulses to the point that the holiday has now taken a life of its own without the need to remember the Christ of Christmas.
Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ!
There is simply no other reason for the season.
Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that we should cease this gift-giving tradition.
It is a good tradition that expresses our love and gratitude for one another.
However as Christians, we must regard our gift to Christ above and before all others.
For those of us who still read the Bible, we would know that the origin of giving gifts during Christmas is really from the example of the Magi who followed the Star in search of the baby Jesus. Of course, they did not arrive empty handed – for they came bearing gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.
If you are thinking right now, “I would really like to be serious about Christmas… But what gift can I get for Jesus Christ?”
Great question.
I understand that it is hard to get gold, frankincense and myrrh in this day and age – even with worldwide online shopping. And even if you can get your hands on some of that stuff, it is tough to get it delivered to where Christ is today. (Note: In case you have forgotten our coverage of the Apostles’ Creed, Christ is ‘seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.’)
So, let’s get serious about Christmas – by first getting serious about understanding the biblical narrative regarding the Magi’s relentless quest for the Christ-child.
“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?
We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary,
and they bowed down and worshiped him.
Understand this.
Before the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, the Magi have already presented a gift to Jesus far more valuable than anything this world had to offer - their irrepressible desire – in evident disregard for their own lives – to worship Christ the King.
Observe their unshakable resolve and single-mindedness in this quest.
Nothing could hold them back, and they held nothing back.
For two years they traveled upon their initial sighting of the Star.
Two years.
Anything could have happened to them during their long and treacherous journey in those two years searching of the ‘King of the Jews’.
They braved the constant threat of adverse weather, wild animals, and robbers who would murder senselessly just to relieve them of their possessions.
In short, the Magi risked their lives to worship the baby Jesus, whom they truly believed to be God.
These Wise Men were thoroughly convicted that risking their lives through all the possible perils of such an arduous journey was most worthwhile; as their deepest desire - encapsulated in those two years of their lives dedicated to seeking the Christ-child - was fulfilled when they laid eyes on the baby Jesus.
What followed next, was the sacred act that they had waited all their lives for – they bowed down and worshiped God who took on flesh and came into the world.
The Magi gave their lives to worship Jesus Christ.
That was their foremost gift to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Their lives, and their worship.
Now, that’s being serious about Christmas.
Like the magi, if you want to be serious about Christmas, are you prepared to give your life and your worship to Jesus?
I pray that this Christmas, you will find time to give Jesus your foremost and most precious gift – a life of worship unto Him.
In worshiping Christ, Matthew 2 tells us that the Magi presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Understand that all three gifts were inappropriate – albeit on different levels – for commemorating the birth of a child. However, a deeper understanding into the significance of these gifts would reveal to us the necessary aspects of an authentic life of worship.
Gold.
The Magi recognized Christ as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
Gold is not only the metal of kings; it represents the most precious things of our lives.
And what can be more precious to us in life, than life itself?
Give that to Jesus.
Don't keep the gold to yourself. Pride says to us that gold is best served in our own hands; our lives are best served in our own hands. We don't need God to provide.
This is such a lie.
Present Christ with your gold this Christmas. Surrender your life to Christ, and let Him turn your life to gold – the best, most fulfilled life you can ever hope to live.
Frankincense.
The Magi recognized Christ as the great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), the only worthy Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5).
Frankincense is a sacred substance used only in Jewish temple worship, and used rightfully by the priests. It is certainly not appropriate as a gift, period, much less a gift for a child.
Frankincense represents our worship and relationship with God.
Never keep the Frankincense to yourself.
To do that would be to believe that you may approach God in worship on your own accord. This is a mistake.
Give your Frankincense to Jesus.
Acknowledge that only through the divine mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ – as our Great High Priest - would we then be able to come before God in prayer and worship.
Don't keep the Frankincense to yourself. Pride says to us that Frankincense is best served in our own hands. We may be our own priests. We may worship God through our own mediation. We don't need God to provide. This is such a lie.
Present Christ with your Frankincense this Christmas. Surrender your life to Christ. Let Him be your High Priest and Mediator, and you will experience true worship of the One, True, Living God.
Myrrh.
The least appropriate gift for a child.
In the days of Jesus, Myrrh is used as the key embalming substance for the preservation of corpses.
The Magi recognized that Christ is the perfect lamb of God who will one day suffer and die for the redemption of all mankind (John 1:29, 1 Peter 1:19).
Thus for this significance, the gift of Myrrh was as prophetic as it was symbolic.
Myrrh represents preservation after death has taken place.
Never keep the Myrrh to yourself.
To do that would be to believe that although you are already dead due to sin, because of the Myrrh in your life, you have the ability to self-preserve apart from God. This is as grave a mistake as it is a lie.
We have zero ability – and zero probability – at self-preservation.
Give your Myrrh to Christ.
Surrender and repent of every effort at self-preservation to the Lord, and acknowledge that only Christ has the power to preserve, and prosper, your life.
In fact, when you give your Myrrh to Christ, He would give you the unction to die with Him - ‘to consider yourself dead to sin’- in order that you may live with Him, and be forever free from sin and death. (Romans 6:8)
Present your Myrrh to Christ this Christmas and stop all this nonsense about self-preservation. Without Christ, we are doomed to an eternal death – which is the wages of our sins. Rather, be ‘buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.’ (Romans 6:4)
Gold.
Frankincense.
Myrrh.
Withholding nothing, the Magi gave their lives to worship Jesus Christ.
That was their foremost gift to the Lord Jesus Christ.
This Christmas, I pray that you would do likewise.
Present your life before Christ today.
Withhold nothing; not your Gold, not the Frankincense, and certainly not the Myrrh.
Seek Him. Recognize Him. Draw close to Him.
Let nothing repress you, nor challenge your resolve.
Persevere.
Until you come face to face in worship of our the Lord Jesus Christ - the King of kings, our Great High Priest, and the perfect Lamb of God.
Now, that’s being serious about Christmas.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
We are profoundly and eternally grateful for sending Your Son, and our Lord, Jesus Christ, into the world to redeem mankind from sin and its power.
Holy Spirit, please teach us to be serious in our celebration and remembrance of this sacred event – Christmas.
Please grant us courage and wisdom to live a life of worship unto King Jesus Christ.
May this Christmas season be a season of reflection and gratitude for Your goodness, Your Salvation, and Your destiny for us in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
This Christmas, I present my gold to you.
I repent of the sin that makes me think that my life is best served under my own wisdom and ability, and therefore, I have no need for Christ in my life.
Lord Jesus, all that I hold dear, I surrender into Your hands.
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that you are the King of kings and the Lord of Lords.
This Christmas, I present my frankincense to you.
I repent of the sin that makes me believe that I may facilitate my own worship of the living God.
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that You are the Great High Priest and the only Mediator between God and man.
This Christmas, I present my myrrh to you.
I repent of the sin that gives me the unbiblical paradigm of self-preservation.
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that You are the perfect Lamb of God send to suffer and die on the Cross for our redemption; and that only You have the power to new life.
Like the Magi who traversed every hardship and threats in their resolve to seek You, recognize You and draw close to You, may I spend this Christmas season doing likewise.
Holy Spirit, grant me a steadfast spirit. Let nothing repress me, nor challenge my resolve to come face to face with You, my Lord Jesus Christ - the King of kings, our Great High Priest, and the perfect Lamb of God.
Lord Jesus, I worship You!
We thank you and pray all these in the Name of our Lord, Saviour and Coming King, Jesus Christ. Amen.