1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lordâs hand double for all her sins.
Isaiah 40:1-2 CJB
1âComfort and keep comforting my people,â says your God. 2 âTell Yerushalayim to take heart; proclaim to her that she has completed her time of service, that her guilt has been paid off, that she has received at the hand of Adonai double for all her sins.â
Image Source: Pinterest Comfort – Bressi Collection | Minimal Art
As we continue to unwrap the gifts the wise men brought to Baby Jesus, we travel into the deep woods of significant treasure. In our last post, we explored the first gift of gold, a gift fit for a king!
The Gift of Frankincense
Today, we turn our noses to frankincenseâa fragrant resin from trees that typically grow in dry mountain regions of India, Africa, and the Middle East.
Join us as we unwrap how it reveals the eternal gift of life.
Letâs see how frankincense, given with reverence and love, connects us to the enduring message of Christmas.
Why Frankincense?
Frankincense is known for its sacred tradition and profound meaning.
Image created by AI
Itâs woody. It can be inhaled. It can be absorbed by the skin. It can be taken as a supplement.
This precious gift perfectly symbolizes Jesusâ spiritual nature.
Throughout history, frankincense has been central to religious ceremonies. Think about incense in the church. It carries a sacred aroma that lingers in the air, transcending our spirits to another world.
It is quite an experience. Donât you think?
Frankincense: The Gift for a King
This gift calls us to reflect on Jesusâ divine nature and His role as a great High Priest. It reminds us of the bridge between heaven and earth. And how our prayers, like incense, rise to God.
Every day we are reminded of Godâs omnipresence. Letâs take a deep breath and say âYahâ as we inhale and âWehâ as we exhale. Feel it? THAT is the presence of God.
The sacred syllables of âYahwehâ remind us that every breath is a gift from God, connecting us to His presence.
As we prepare for Christmas, let the gift of frankincense invite us into worship. Just like the hymn, We Three Kings...
Frankincense to offer have I. Incense owns a Deity nigh. Prayer and praising all humans raising, Worship Him, God on high.
May we follow the wise men to Jesus. There, at the manger, we can worship the King of Kings.
In the next post, we unwrap the third and final treasure of the wise men and see how it adds to the layers of the divine birth of Baby Jesus.
Unwrapping the Gifts to Eternal Life: Gold, A Gift Fit for a King
Prepare Ye The Way
As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we will talk about the gifts the wise men brought to Baby Jesus.
In our last post, we provided a brief overview of the biblical text to provide a framework.
The Gift of Gold
Today, we start with goldâa gift symbolizing royalty and acknowledging Jesus as the King of all creation.
Join us as we unwrap how it reveals the eternal reign of Christ.
Letâs see how gold, given with reverence and love, connects us to the enduring message of Christmas.
Why Gold?
Gold is known for its endurance.
Image created by AI using biblical text
Itâs stability. Itâs power to stand the test of time. It is the perfect precious metal to symbolize the kingship of Jesus.
Looking back on history, we see how gold is represented in royalty and divinity. Take the ephod, a priestly garment, for example. You can google it for more detailed information. It is fascinating to see goldâs role in royalty and the sacred.
Gold: The Gift for a King
Gold has always been a symbol of royalty and wealth. By presenting gold, the Magi acknowledged Jesusâ kingship. He was not just the King of the Jews but the King of all creation. This gift aligns with the prophecy in Isaiah 9:6-7:
âFor to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.â
Isaiah 9:6-7
As we reflect on this gift, we are reminded how Jesus brings us love, peace, and hope. If we open our hearts to God, we can embrace the Baby Jesus and honor Him as King of Kings.
King of Kings
For those who truly wish to prepare their hearts for Christmas, take a moment from your busy day today and listen to the Hallelujah Chorus from Handelâs Messiah. As you prepare ye the way to the Lord this Christmas season, I hope the triumphant melody will remind you of the gold the wise men brought to Baby Jesus. The same baby who grows up to become the King of Kings who reigns forever and ever.
In our next post, we will unwrap the second gift of the wise men and see how it adds to the layers of the divine birth of Jesus.
Letâs continue to prepare our hearts for Christmas. Shall we?
Our journey will take us to Christmas, where we will find hope and redemption to renew our faith, whatever that faith may be.
In the previous post, we explored how Christmas found its place on December 25 and how it was rooted in the ancient festival of Saturnalia.
The next three blog posts will focus on the significance of the wise menâs gifts to Baby Jesus. Today, we start with what Matthew had to say.
Ever wonder where the Magi brought their gifts?
The Three Magi Magi Mags royalty-free vector graphic by pixabay dot com
Letâs see what the Bible has to say in Matthew 2.
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Matthew 2:9-12
Does it Really Matter?
So, we understand the story. King Herod sent the wise men to find the Baby. But the text doesnât reveal how the wise men came to possess the gifts.
Did King Herod give them to the wise men?
Or did the wise men buy them along the way?
Or, perhaps they had these gifts along, waiting for the right time to give them away.
No, it doesnât matter at all. The Wise Men presented Jesusâ holiness and signified that Jesus came to Earth to save our souls. And that is what matters most.
Divine Mystery
There is no doubt these gifts had divine mystery. There were profoundly more than mere symbols of wealth. These gifts speak to Jesusâ life and the hope He offers. Their meaning unlocks the keys to everlasting life.
In the next post, weâll unwrap these treasures and uncover their significance. We will start with gold – A gift fit for a King!
Let’s prepare our hearts for Christmas over the next two weeks. Shall we?
Our journey will take us to Christmas, where we will find hope and redemption to renew our faith, whatever that faith may be.
We will be looking at Isaiah 40. But first, we start with Isaiah 7.
Ever wonder where the prophetic birth of Jesus comes from?
Immanuel
Prediction from the Old Testament to Recorded Event in the New Testament
Isaiah 7:14 NIV
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Matthew 1:23 NIV
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, âJoseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.â22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 âThe virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuelâ (which means âGod with usâ).
Isaiah 7:14 CJB
Therefore Adonai himself will give you people a sign: the young woman* will become pregnant, bear a son and name him âImmanu El [God is with us].
Matthew 1:23 CJB
20 But while he was thinking about this, an angel of Adonai appeared to him in a dream and said, âYosef, son of David, do not be afraid to take Miryam home with you as your wife; for what has been conceived in her is from the Ruach HaKodesh. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua, [which means âAdonai saves,â] because he will save his people from their sins.â 22 All this happened in order to fulfill what Adonai had said through the prophet, 23 âThe virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him âImmanuel.â The name means, âGod is with us.â)
Isaiah foretells the birth of Jesus.
It seems clear as a bell to me. Or is it?
We know two things: A woman will give birth. The baby will be named Immanuel.
In the NIV, the woman is a virgin and will conceive, and in the CJB, the woman is young and will become pregnant.
Now, this is where it gets fuzzy. As we know it, the Bible is not in chronological order, so it muddles our perception a bit.
To keep it simple, remember: Isaiah was written after Hosea and Amos. Thereby making it the third oldest sacred text. The Gospel of Mark was written before the Gospel of Matthew. Even though Matthew is listed as the first book in the New Testament.
In Matthew, the author records the birth as a fulfillment of the prophecy from Isaiah. We see an 8th-century writing predicting an event recorded in 80 AD.
Letâs continue to prepare our hearts for Christmas. Shall we?
Our journey will take us to Christmas, where we will find hope and redemption to renew our faith, whatever that faith may be.
In the previous post, we knawed on the prophetic words that predicted Jesusâ birth.
Today, we will reveal…
How Christmas Really Began
The Roots of Christmas
Remember that Christianity didnât really spread until the 300-400s when Constantine declared Christianity as Romeâs religion. Before that time, there were other religions involving many gods and goddesses.
The Roman Catholic Church is believed to have chosen December 25 to celebrate Christâs birth due to its ties with the winter solstice and the festival of Saturnalia, a time of feasting and gift-giving. Adapting these existing celebrations facilitated the transition to Christianity.
The winter solstice symbolized the sunâs ârebirth,â which aligns directly with the theme of Jesus, the âLight of the World.â Doesnât it?
This strategy helped convert pagans by integrating already established traditions into Christian practices. Pretty straightforward.
Does It Really Matter?
Ultimately, the significance of Jesusâ birth is to celebrate the Son of God taking on human form. This miraculous event is one of the cornerstones of Christianity. And giving gifts honors the age-old story of the wise men bringing gifts to baby Jesus. So, does it really matter that it is December 25?
No, it doesnât matter at all. What matters is that a Savior was born, and He is Christ the King.
As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, remember we are on a transformative journey from darkness into light, from prophecy to fulfillment.
In our next post, we will dig deeper into the gifts the wise men presented to baby Jesus.
