Gifts fit for a king: Wise men honour Jesus still

Consider the three gifts that the wise men gave to Jesus when he was a young child - and what they represent. A communion message from preacher, Peter Gregoric.

Note, these three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. The wise men gave them to Jesus. The gifts are symbolic of Him as king, of the worship due to Him, and of His death on the cross.

Matthew 2:9-11 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Herod sent these wise men to Jesus, to find where he was, and then to tell Herod where he was. Herod wanted to kill him so that he wouldn't become king. These wise men came and found Jesus. They gave Him these treasures, of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

These wise men sought the Lord. They sought Jesus. And for us to be truly wise – we ought to do the same thing, and seek after the Lord.

GOLD is a picture of Christ becoming King, and recognising him as a king. Herod said, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? In Psalm 72 we have a King - which is Jesus. Psalm 72 is about Christ and that gold was given unto him - Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. It is talking about the king - the King's son. Psalms 72:15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. Psalms 72:15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.
These wise men recognise that Jesus is the king that is to come. During his first coming he didn't come to set up a kingdom in this world. At His first coming He was come as the Lamb of God, to die on the cross. But when He comes again during the Millennium He’s going to set up his kingdom.

Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Jesus is the king of kings. Do we yield to Him as king – for what He wants for us in our life?

FRANKINCENCE is the second gift that was given to Him. Frankincense is a fragrant gum resin that can be ground into powder and burnt to produce an odour - a sweet smelling odour. It's used to picture His worship. In the Old Testament in the temple frankincense was used when they would worship the Lord.

The wise men gave him these gifts, and then they fell down and worshipped Him.

The Lord told Moses of frankincense, in the context of worship, in Exodus 30:34 …Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight …and thou shalt make it a perfume…

Our Lord is worthy of our worship. He's worthy to be praised. And may we worship Him in the right way - in the way that He wants to be worshipped.

During his ministry Jesus never rebuked people when they came and they worshipped Him. Matthew 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

Our Lord was willing to heal the leper. The Lord is willing for us to be saved, and to come unto him.

When Peter was walking on the water in the Sea of Galilee he saw Jesus, and he walked out to him. And he began to sink, and he said, Lord, save me. And immediately the Lord came and saved him.

MYRRH is the third gift. Myrrh is a picture of Christ’s death. Myrrh is a resin that's usually taken from the bark of trees. It's considered a luxury item - very valuable. Like an expensive perfume.

Mark 15:22-23 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. 23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

When He was being crucified they tried to give our Lord this wine mingled with myrrh, but he refused to drink it.

When they took the body of the Lord down from the cross: John 19:38-39 And after this Joseph …came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. They had myrrh and aloes inside the linen cloth that they wrapped around His body, as they took Him to the tomb.

The gifts of the wise men foreshadowed Christ, as King, as due worship, and as witness of His saving death on the cross - all of this is part of His great plan for us - to be saved and redeemed by faith - through his death, burial, and resurrection.