Gifts …given…

 Gifts….

When my oldest son was born, I made the announcements for his arrival…using the following verse as the centerpiece…

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

Jas.1.17

We were so thrilled to have our first child after several miscarriages…my mom came to help with this precious bundle, followed soon after with my dad and then my husband’s parents…we were so grateful for this gift…friends gave us our first baby shower with mounds of presents…what a gift…that caused yet more gifts….

When I think of baby Jesus….he definitely was the “good and perfect gift” to the world, to his parents….the shepherds came and gave the gift of worship….the Angels came and gave the gift of exaltation… the inn keeper gave them the gift of accommodations…the wisemen came and gave him gifts…

 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.

Matt.2.11

Patrick Carr wrote in Crosswalk…

Gold…frankincense…and Myrrh…”Gold proclaimed Him to be our king, the one who would rule over his people, and indeed the whole of creation, forever and ever. Frankincense announced that He would be our high priest, intervening with God, Himself, on our behalf, offering prayers and intercessions for us.

And finally, myrrh reveals to us that our King and Priest, God forever, was somehow a mortal man would also serve as our prophet, a man who would die in the place of his people.” 

An interesting article…

https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/what-the-magis-gifts-to-jesus-really-symbolize.html

 Gold…His kingship

I saw in the night visions,and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man,and he came to the Ancient of Daysand was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him;his dominion is an everlasting dominion,which shall not pass away,and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Dan.7.13-14

Frankincense…His Deity…

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Col.2.9-10

Myrrh…His death…

  After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

John.19.38-42

But, the ultimate Gift, Jesus…keeps on giving…he was given gifts and He is our gift…

Thank YOU….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ_MGWio-vc