Three Gifts for the Holy One

​The wise men from the East gave so much of themselves to see the Child that had been born to Israel. Time, effort, gifts, and safety – all were considered an investment in finding the Treasure indicated by an incredible star. They were not disappointed!

Though the offerings of the Magi had immediate and tangible benefits for Jesus and His parents, I find there is one place in the Bible where we see all three items together and makes sense as a testimony to Jesus the Christ: the Holy of Holies.  Specifically, it is the Mercy Seat that set atop the Ark of the Covenant where gold, frankincense, and myrrh join together.

This was the place where the Lord promised to meet with Moses, as stated in Exodus 25, "You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I will give to you. 22 "There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.” (Exodus 25:21-22, [NASB] )

The Mercy Seat was made of solid gold. It was anointed with holy oil made with myrrh.  Frankincense, an aromatic resin, was burned to give off a fragrant aroma pleasing to God, and used so that “the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on {the ark of} the testimony” (Lev. 16:13 [NASB] ) as the High Priest sprinkled it with blood from the sin offering and prayed once a year on the Day of Atonement for himself and the people of Israel. Year after year.

Though we have no direct indication that the Magi chose their gifts with specific intentions, it would seem that the same God who set a special star in the heavens for them to follow 1,400 miles could impress upon them the idea of giving these unique presents to a royal child.

I believe that the gifts were themselves prophetic, indicating the purpose of Jesus’ mission for redeeming sinful mankind. Everything was there, save the acceptable, sacrificial blood.

In Hebrews 2:17  we read, “Therefore, He[Jesus] had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (NASB) Propitiation (the act of appeasing the wrath of God because of sin) could only be done through blood sacrifice. Jesus’s death on the cross was the last atoning sacrifice ever needed. Fully accepted by The Father.

The Apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:2 “and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for {those of} the whole world.” (NASB) Through Jesus’ death on the cross and the shedding of His blood, EVERYTHING was done perfectly according to the Law so that the whole world might gain access to the Throne of Grace and our Heavenly Father. Jesus is our All in all!

John continues, “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son {to be} the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:9-11 [NASB] )

God’s unfathomable love reaches to our deepest, darkest recesses, bringing light and forgiveness of sins. The Gift of salvation just needs to be acknowledged and received.

Because of Christmas we can say with confidence, “… and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9 [NASB] )

May you know this inexpressible joy and hope of glory found in Jesus Christ.

May you find that when the presents are gone, His Presence remains.

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