Today is the twelfth day after Christmas, The start of Epiphany season. This celebrates the visit of the Wise Men who came in search of the newborn King. Today's church service was centered around the visit of the Wise Men and the gifts they brought. In Bible class we watched the final half of the Nativity story where the picture above is from. This shows the part where the Wise men arrived. I love the movie and all the special meaning captured in the writing and the filming of The Nativity Story. I know the writers, producers and actors had to have prayed for God to guide their talents and use them according to His good and gracious will.
This is my gift just after my grandchildren helped me place these by my personal ceramic Nativity. The boxes are decorated so beautiful, I can't help but think of what the original gifts by the wise men might have looked like.
The first gift mentioned in Matthew 2 was the GOLD. Gold was given to show the infant Jesus, God's very Son was a KING! A King for all mankind.
The second Gift mentioned was FRANKINCENSE. Frankincense is a resin from the dried sap of the Boswellia tree. Frankincense was burned as a incense during the sacrifices at the Temple. This gift was to show that Jesus would be the ultimate sacrifice for all people, for all our sins.Frankincense and Gold were equally precious.
The third gift mentioned was MYRRH. Myrrh is also a resin used as incense and also put on dead bodies. Myrrh has a bitter fragrance. This was to show the bitter job that Baby Jesus had come to earth to do. The glowing light from the star that guided the wise men to the place where Baby Jesus lay, reminds us that Jesus is still the light and we need to let that light shine through us that all might know that great gift of salvation.
. . .And they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures,
. . .And they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2 verse 11b
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