The Gift

Christmas is just round the corner and indeed, Christmas is a season for giving. God had demonstrated His love by giving His begotten Son, Jesus Christ as the Gift for us… For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Virgin Mary gave birth to her firstborn, a Son in Bethlehem, the town of David. When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took Baby Jesus to Jerusalem and present Him to the Lord, as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord", and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons." Obviously, Joseph and Mary were not financially sound as the type of offer reflected their financial affordability as indicated in Leviticus 5: 7 ~ 'If he cannot afford a lamb, he is to bring two doves or two young pigeons to the LORD… However, this consecration had changed their life and they did not remain poor ever since...

On the other hand, this ultimate prophecy came to pass when the Magi was led to witness Baby Jesus in His mother's arm. When Daniel the prophet was in Babylon, he was the head of the Magi. The Magi learned of the prophecies of the coming Messiah from Daniel and were handed down from generation to generation of the Magi. The star in the East had led the Magi to Joseph’s house and they saw Baby Jesus with His mother, Mary. The Magi did not come just to see Baby Jesus or visit Baby Jesus; they came to bow down and worship Him and they opened their treasures and presented Baby Jesus with gifts of gold, and of frankincense and of myrrh.

In the Bible times, these gifts were only meant for the kings. For gold was to designate royalty. Jesus is King of Kings and symbolically gold represents kingship; the King that Christ is for us. Frankincense signified His role as High Priest, an Intercessor between man and God. Symbolically frankincense also represented the divinity of Christ because frankincense was burnt as an offering to God. As for myrrh, because of its aromatic quality to cover the smell of decay, myrrh was an embalming spice and was used at death. Therefore, myrrh prophetically pointed to Jesus dying on the cross for mankind and also represented the bitter cup that Christ had to drink in suffering for our sins and the healing for us that his death brings. These gifts also signified the fundamental office of Christ as King, High Priest and Prophet.

Because of these three types of gift were mentioned, numerous erroneous thoughts had led to the conclusion that there were only three wise men. In actual fact, the Magi were powerful men in Babylon, and they were escorted by a troop of as many as 200 mighty horse soldiers when they traveled. Their present in the land of Israel gave fear to Herod due to the encroachment, his military tension within the Roman Empire and the news of a newborn King.

This ultimate Gift from God and the gifts from the Magi had the same theme in signifying the royalty nature, priestly ministry and the death of Christ. The birth of our Savior was to fulfill the Father’s will by demonstrating a consecrated life on earth and to take away the sins of this world...

Christmas' original purpose is to declare this Good News and celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Luke 2:11 ~ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to YOU; He is Christ the Lord.

By grace, a Savior has been born to YOU, have YOU receive this Gift?