HEADING FOR THE MANGER

by STEVE DUNN

This post originally appeared in this blog on December 17, 2010

 

Reading: Matthew 2.1-12

We are now seven days before Christmas Eve.  People are hustling around trying to complete their Christmas shopping (or grabbing some time to wrap presents). There may be one or two Christmas parties left.  Family schedules are being adjusted so that we can get to all the stops we need to make for Christmas Day.  Many of us in this group will be in church Friday night to celebrate the Birth.

This is the story of the visit of the Magi to the manger. The Magi were royalty who had the time and leisure to be scholars--astronomers, it appears and students of the religious writings of the Middle East. In those days, stars were believed to be signs of momentous events or life messages. It was a bit more substantive than the current day's astrology and horoscopes. They were likely from Persia.  We do not know exactly when this occurred, but given the distance they would have traveled and the response of Herod after their departure, the journey could have been up two years.

By their own report, they started their journey after the saw the Star.  The scriptures leave us to understand that the Star first appeared in the night sky on the day of Jesus' birth.

They also came prepared--with gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.Gold is a gift for a King, symbolising Jesus' kingship. Frankincense is an incense used by priests, thus symbolising Jesus' priesthood. Myrrh is used in embalming the dead, which prophetically signifies that Jesus was born to die. These are the symbolic meaning of these gifts, but they must have also had a practical purpose. It is likely that Mary saved the myrrh for Jesus' burial; although it is also likely that some of it was used for Joseph's burial as well. The Frankincense may have been used in the home of Joseph when they celebrated te Passover.

The point here is this.  These men rearranged their lives to come to the manger, and they came with gifts that expressed an awareness of what Jesus would need. So here's the question - are you arranging your life to make sure that Jesus remains at the center, not only for this season but the whole year?  And have you asked yourself, what does God want me to offer Him as a reflection of my worship and thanksgiving?