Why frankincense….

 

Why frankincense?

 I read a short devotional about the gifts that were presented to the child, Jesus,  by the wisemen who followed the star and found him.

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 2:11

Each gift, various authors contend, symbolize something of Jesus…

Gold symbolizes Kingship…frankincense, healing …and myrrh represents suffering…

Then following the word, “frankincense “ throughout the Word, I found it was used 21 times…I have to admit, I have skimmed over it quickly many times, observing it was an ingredient for various mixtures and knowing that it was a gift…but, healing and a holy ingredient…and then to find out that the resin itself is called “tears” in its collected stage…

Aah…what fragrant connections…Jesus went about healing as part of his earthly ministry…we are healed by His wounds because of the cross…

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5 

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.

Jeremiah 17:14 

And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

Matthew 4:23

And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

Matthew 4:23

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 2:24

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:1-2

The Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you. It shall be most holy for you. And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord.

Exodus 30:34-37

Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.

Isaiah 60:4-6

Thank YOU…your connections and pictures are sooooo telling…so teaching…if we take time to listen and look…

Fun info…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankincense

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/frankincense

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-448/frankincense

https://healthyfocus.org/frankincense-essential-oil-benefits/