Three Appropriate Gifts For Jesus

                                 THREE APPROPRIATE GIFTS FOR JESUS

Geoffrey T. Bull, a British missionary to Tibet in 1949, was cold, exhausted, and hungry. He had been seized by Communists following their takeover of China. His captors drove him day and night across frozen mountains. Late one afternoon, he staggered into a small village where he was given an upstairs room, swept clean and warmed by a small charcoal heater.

After a meager supper, he was sent downstairs to feed the horses. It was frigid and dark. He clambered down the notched tree trunk to find himself in pitch blackness. His boots squished in the manure and straw on the floor, and the stinking smell of the animals was nauseating.

Geoffrey, cold, weary, lonely, and ill, begin to feel sorry for himself. "Then, as I continue to grope my way in the darkness," he later wrote, "it suddenly flashed into my mind. What's today? I thought for a moment. In traveling, the days had become a little muddled in my mind. Suddenly it came to me. It's Christmas Day. I stood suddenly still in that Oriental manger.

To think that my Savior was born in a place like this. To think that He came all the way from heaven to some wretched eastern stable, and what is more, to think that He came for me. I returned to the warm, clean room which I enjoyed even as a prisoner, bowed to thankfulness and worship."[1]Today is Christmas. Let us worship the God-incarnate Jesus Christ our Lord.

No Christmas nativity scene excludes the three colorfully dressed wise men with their camels and colorful gifts. But who are they? What were they searching for? How did they respond when they found what they were looking for? How does that impact us today?

I. Visitors from the East. The story begins with some Magi, translated as wise men from Eastern lands, coming to Jerusalem. The East of Jerusalem was the Parthian Empire, the area that, at one time, had been the kingdom of Babylon (250 BC).

The wise men were specialized in astrology, magic, and natural sciences. They existed in Babylon during King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:9). These wise men were not only three men on camels, as seen in Christmas nativity scenes. The designation of only three comes from the fact that only three gifts are recorded as having been given to the Christ Child. From historical information, a cavalry of formidable men on camels rode into Jerusalem.[2]

They went to the palace and asked Herod, "where is the newborn King of the Jews? We saw his star in the East and have come to worship him. The wise men came from a far country, traveling about 900 miles through rugged terrain to worship Christ, while the Jews, his kinsmen, would not take a step and go to the next town to welcome the newborn King.

Upon hearing what the wise men said, King Herod and everyone in Jerusalem were deeply disturbed. Why? Until then, King Herod thought he was appointed as the King of the Jews, and no successor had been born, but now the wise men were talking about a new king that had been born, and they saw his star when it appeared in the East.

Herod quickly summoned the leading priests and the religious leaders and inquired where the Messiah was supposed to be born. They pointed the King to two ancient prophecies, "And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel." (Micah 5:2, II Sam 5:2)

Without showing his nervousness, King Herod told the wise men, "Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too! Would he really worship Jesus, or was it a plot to kill him? The wise men went to Bethlehem, led by the same star that appeared to them in the East. The Star of Bethlehem is one of the greatest mysteries in astronomy and the Bible. How did it lead the Magi to Jesus?

The star-led journey ended at the house where the Christ child was. Throughout their search for the newborn King, God guided them through a star, for which they were filled with Joy. Upon entering the house, whom did they find? How did they respond, and what gifts did they offer? Matthew 2:11, "They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and Myrrh." Who would offer such gifts to a newborn baby?

You would take a crib or bundles of diapers when visiting a newborn, not gold, frankincense, and certainly not Myrrh used to embalm a dead body. But those were precisely the gifts the wise men presented to Jesus. At first glimpse, they look inappropriate, but if you take a closer look and see their significance, we will find them to be very appropriate gifts for Jesus. 

II. Three Appropriate Gifts For Jesus

By reading the text, we will know that a few days might have passed since Jesus was born. We usually see the wise men at the manger in the nativity scene, but we see them here in the house. Before looking into the gifts, the wise men offered, we observe their posture. They bowed down and worshiped the child and offered their gifts. Why is that so important?

For Matthew, the focus was less on who the wise men were. That's why we know very little of them in the story. Instead, he was interested that Gentiles came to worship the Jewish Messiah and the gifts they bore. Before we do anything or give anything to God, we must bow down and worship Him first. Let's look at the significance of the gifts.  

Gold: It is easy to see why gold is an appropriate gift for Jesus Christ. Gold is a symbol of divinity and is mentioned throughout the Bible. The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with Gold (Exodus 25:10-17). The gift of gold to the Christ child was symbolic of His divinity—God in the flesh. The wise men worshipped him, recognizing Jesus as God.

Gold is also the metal of kings. When gold was presented to Jesus, it acknowledged his right to rule. The wise men knew Jesus was the King of kings, so they bowed down. Isn't that what Isaiah prophesied about Jesus? "His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity." Isaiah 9:7 By offering gold to the baby Jesus, the wise men paved the way for the world to recognize the Kingship of Jesus, bow their knees, and confess with their mouths that He is Lord.

Frankincense: It was used in temple worship. It was mixed with the oil used to anoint the priests of Israel. It was part of the meal offerings of thanksgiving and praise to God. In presenting this gift, the wise men pointed to Christ as our great High Priest, whose whole life was acceptable and well-pleasing to his Father.

Myrrh: Myrrh was used for embalming. By any human measure, it would be odd, if not offensive, to present to the infant Christ a spice used for embalming. But it was not offensive, nor was it weird. It was a gift of faith. We do not know what the wise men may have known about Christ's ministry, but we know that the Old Testament foretold his suffering. At the time of dedication, Simeon told Mary, "A sword will pierce your very soul," implying Christ's death.

God gave Jesus as his love gift to humanity. Jesus, through his death and resurrection, offers the gift of salvation to all who believe in Him. On this Christmas Day, what gifts do you bring to Jesus? By faith, we, too, may present our gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.

Let's begin with our Myrrh, by identifying in the death of Christ and by dying to our flesh. Let's consider ourselves dead to sin and being alive for Christ. When that happens, we bring our frankincense which is our life. We offer our lives to Jesus as a living sacrifice. Our frankincense can also be our good works, by which God is pleased (Hebrews 13:16). Finally, we honor and worship our King Jesus with our gold by living a life of purity. Amen!

 

 

  

 

 

---

[1] Geoffrey T. Bull, When Iron Gates Yield (Chicago: Moody Press, n.d.), 158-159

[2] https://reasonsforhopejesus.com/who-were-the-three-wise-men/

God's Love Gift

                                                        GOD'S LOVE GIFT

As I was plugging away on the gym treadmill, this Liberty Mutual ad caught my attention. It was about people remembering commercials with nostalgia. A family opens gifts at Christmas. A mother asks, what did you get, Rayan? With glee in his eyes, he says, "It's customized home insurance from Liberty Mutual." She asks the other son what did you get Mike? He says, with a sad face, "A bike and kicks it." The mother laughs, saying nothing.

It made me think these days. We don't know what makes our kids happy during Christmas or other times. Are parents failing to teach their kids about contentment? If you grew up in this part of the world, you might remember Christmas with nostalgia. It is about giving and receiving gifts, but that is not how the rest of the world celebrates Christmas.

As Christmas Day approaches, our anxiety and anticipation increase. As gifts are piled up under the Christmas tree, you discreetly look through the pile to find out who got the biggest package and whether you have a gift. Suppose you find a box that says, "God's Love Gift, with your name on it. When it is time to open presents, how eager are you to open that gift?

During this Christmas season, God's love Gift is for everyone. No one should be disappointed. It is customized, and it has your name on it. You may or may not open it, So I am asking the youngest among us to come forward and open it for us and let's see what we will find there. On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we will observe how God unfolded His love gift to shepherds while watching their flock. Luke 2:8-20

I. Ancient Prophecies Fulfilled.

Last week we saw how John the Baptist came as a fulfillment of two prophecies of Isaiah and Malachi. Today we will look at the fulfillment of two other prophecies. In the O.T., God raised prophets to shepherd His people in Israel. Instead of caring for God's sheep, some prophets have destroyed and scattered the ones they were expected to care for.

Jeremiah prophesied in 586 B.C. how God would raise a righteous descendent from King David's line. Jeremiah 23: 4-6 "For the time is coming," says the Lord, "when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David's line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this will be his name: 'The Lord Is Our Righteousness. 'In that day, Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety."

Two hundred years later, around 800 B.C., a southern prophet Micah prophesied where and how this descendent of David would be born and what He would do. Micah 5:2-6, "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.

The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the woman in labor gives birth…And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord's strength, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored around the world. And he will be the source of Peace."

Let's see how these two prophecies converged in the foothills of Palestine. It was like any other cold winter night in the mountains of Palestine. A group of shepherds was grazing their flock in an open field under a starlight sky. Suddenly, an angel appeared, and the whole place was lit up with the glory of God. The shepherds were frightened to death.

The angel said, "don't be afraid." I brought Good News that will bring great Joy to all people. Today, in the town of Bethlehem, where David was born, a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord, has been born." The Messiah was not born in a palace, unlike the earthly kings but in a stable. His birth announcement bypassed the kingly and priestly community but was first revealed to a shepherding community. One day this king will shepherd all of God's people. His birth is God's love gift for humanity. This good news will bring great joy to all people. How so?

The Greek word translated as Joy was intensified by its prefix "megas," from which we get the English word, Mega. This great joy is not human-based happiness that comes and goes. Instead, it is true and lasting Joy that comes from God and no one else. As a fulfillment of this prophecy, later on, Jesus invited his disciples to ask, "You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy." John 16:24.

II. God's Love Gift

Let's see how God wrapped his love gift and sent it to the world and what it contains. His love gift was wrapped in a tiny baby boy as angels announced to the shepherds. Luke 2:12, "And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." God's love gift to this world is His Son, the savior, the Messiah, and the Lord.

In ancient times babies Babies were snugly wrapped in long strips of cloth, giving them warmth, protection of extremities, and a sense of security in their newborn existence. God sent him as a helpless babe to be loved and cared for by the warmth of his mother.

The combination of a newborn baby's wrappings and the use of the manger for a crib would be a distinctive "sign." They also imply that despite the seeming rejection of Jerusalem due to her sins, in (Ezekiel 16:1-5), the baby in the manger became the special object of his mother's love and care. This sign might have reminded people that God has not abandoned them and would look favorably upon His people by restoring their fortunes and the rest of the world.

After delivering this wonderful news, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven in praising and singing how this God's love gift will be shared in the world. As a result of giving this gift, God will get all the glory, and there will be Peace on earth for those with whom God is pleased. That is the good news we all desperately need to hear. There is so much war and violence going on in the world. Oh, God! Please let there be Peace in the world.

III. Sharing God's Love Gift with others.

            How would you have responded suddenly in the middle of the night if a bunch of angels showed up in your room and said, "Today a savior is born, and this is how you would recognize him? You might have shouted at the angels for disturbing your Peace and would go back to sleep. You might have been frightened thinking that you had a nightmare.

It was not how the shepherds reacted to the angel's news. Apart from being frightened, we don't see any skepticism about the angels or what they have heard. They believed the message and hurried to the village to find out firsthand what had been told by the angel.

After seeing everything exactly as the angel said, the shepherds returned to their flocks glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. They also told everyone what they had witnessed and the message about this child, God's love gift.

What can we learn from this classic Christmas story? First, God wrapped all His love in His Son and sent Him to the world as a tiny baby. Second, God used His heavenly army to convey this good news to the uneducated shepherds, possibly considered social outcasts.

Thirdly, the shepherds did not stop at just believing the angels' word but went and verified it themselves. Fourthly, they did not keep that good news to themselves but became the first evangelists and shared God's love gift, the good news, with everyone. 

On this Christmas day, search for God's love gift, Jesus, by faith as you open gifts. He came into this world as a helpless baby but didn't remain that way and grew up to be a man. He was full of grace and truth. During his ministry, he claimed to be the Good Shepherd who would love, care and be ready to die while protecting his sheep. As the scriptures foretold, He offered himself as a perfect sacrificial lamb on the cross to restore us to the Father. That is the good news of great joy for everyone, which must be believed and shared with everyone. Amen!

 

 

 

 

 

Prepare The Way

PREPARE THE WAY!

Our life is full of preparation. From a young age, we prepare ourselves by studying and working hard to have a comfortable and satisfying life. When we spend so much time preparing for a temporary life that one day ends up in a grave, how much time are we spending preparing our souls that will live forever in eternity?  

Preparing themselves and their people for eternity has been the call of the prophets of the past. They urged people to turn away from their sins and return home to God. Some listened to their pleas, changed their ways, enjoyed God's blessings, and ensured an eternal place with God. Many others stubbornly rejected such promptings and faced severe consequences. At the end of the age, they may enter a Godless and pain-filled eternity. What would you choose today?

The prophet Isaiah prophesied in the sixth century BC. Looking ahead to Judah's return from Babylonian exile in Chapter 40:1-5 we read about a messenger who would prepare the way for the Lord and how God would restore the Jewish people to their homeland of Judah.

God brought people back to their land. The temple was rebuilt, and sacrifices were offered, but the priests were careless. The people doubted God and were intermarrying outside Israel. The initial enthusiasm that marked the Jew's return to Jerusalem was gone. They were discouraged. There was a drought, and the crops were bad. They expected a golden age of prosperity, but it had not dawned. Did God not care? Malachi answered these doubts:

God is still on the throne! Look what He did to Edom. God deals with sin. Pay your tithes, obey Him, and see how He will bless you. The Messiah is coming! He will destroy the wicked and give victory to the righteous. But before that, the prophet Elijah must come.

Malachi 4:5-6 "Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. 6 His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers." Has Elijah ever come before the dreadful day of the Lord?

Four hundred years after that prophecy, we read about John the Baptist showing up in the Judean wilderness with a message, Matthew 3:2, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." (Or has come or coming soon).

On this second Sunday of Advent, we will greatly benefit if only we pay attention to the voice shouting in the desert places of our lives saying, "Prepare the Way for the Lord's coming! Clear the road for him." Let us see what it takes to Prepare the Way for The Lord in our hearts.

I. Giving up our sinful ways

John the Baptist's birth was unusual. Both his parents were well passed in age, and his mother, Elizabeth, was beyond childbearing age when she conceived him. The political condition was volatile under the rule of King Herod's two sons Antipas and his brother Philip. There was no spiritual revelation from heaven for four centuries. John was a cousin of Jesus.

He wore clothes made of camel hair; a leather belt tied around his waist. He symbolizes the ancient prophet Elijah. He ate locusts and honey for food., the meal of the poor. What a strange man he was, we might think, but he brought a straightforward message to people.

He fulfilled the prophecies of Isaiah and Malachi. He called the Jews and Gentiles alike to repent and give up their sinful ways. He preached to the people authoritatively using the familiar words of Isaiah 40 :3, "Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!" or "straighten up." John tells them to change. Only then will they be ready to receive what the Messiah would offer them. Humans' sin prohibits them from entering the presence of God.

For that reason, God established a whole set of animal sacrifices and offerings for the forgiveness of sins and purity rituals for cleansing people's impurity in the Old Testament. Yet people continue to commit sins, not receiving what God had promised them. Listening to John's direct message, many confessed their sins and were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

How does John's message speak to us today? We all have sinned and need forgiveness. "If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." (I John 1:8-9). Preparing the way for the Lord in your life begins with you repenting your sins, however gruesome they might be. Once you confess your sins and seek His forgiveness, give up your sinful ways by worshipping God. How do we do that practically?

2. Living a life that is pleasing to God

            What pleases God? Is it our family heritage, nationality, wealth, success, and education? That was what many Pharisees and Sadducees that came to John thought. They declared proudly, "we are the descendants of Abraham. John had a few harsh words for them.

He called them, "you brood of snakes." Don't say you are sons of Abraham but prove your repentance and turning to God by how you live. Repentance and turning to God were just the beginning, and then they were to cultivate a life that was pleasing to God.

In Luke 3:7-14, John gave them some practical ways by which they can prove their genuine repentance. By sharing their clothes and food resources with the poor and living a corruption-free life. They were not to extort money and make false accusations of others but to live a contented life. If John were to be here today, he might have some choice words for us.

He might say you don't say you are a Baptist or a member of Hope Church but show your repentance by living a God-pleasing life. As they say, the proof is in the pudding. The evidence of our repentance is in the way we conduct our life. If you say you have repented of your sins, do those closest to you see a change in your life? If not, your repentance is not genuine.

You say, Lord, I am sorry for my anger. If you keep on having anger outbursts, your repentance is questionable. In the words of John the Baptist, you are not producing fruit in keeping with repentance. (NIV). How can we cultivate and produce the fruit of repentance?

3. Producing fruit in keeping with repentance.  

Vs. 11, "I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

. For years the Jews had used baptism in ritual cleansing ceremonies of Gentile proselytes. John baptized Jews and Gentiles as they both required cleansing. It was a symbolic representation of changing one's mind and going in a new direction to meet the Messiah.

John prepared the way for Christ by calling people to acknowledge their sin and their need for salvation. Through repentance and baptism, he prepared people to receive the Savior and all He would offer them through the Holy Spirit to produce the fruit of repentance.

On this second Sunday of the advent, the voice in the wilderness still calls us to repent our sins, change our ways and turn to God. As we heed that voice, repent our sins, and turn our lives over to God, He will forgive our sins and cause the desert places of our lives to bloom.

But as John exhorted, repentance is only the beginning of a new life with Christ. Once we are forgiven, we are called to produce fruit in keeping with our repentance. On our own, we cannot bear the fruit of repentance and live a God-pleasing life. That is why John said the one who would come after him was much greater. He is the Messiah who would baptize every repentant soul with Holy Spirit's fire. We need both the power and the fire of the Holy Spirit.

 The Holy Spirit's fire will burn up all the rubbish and stubborn sinful habits in our lives. The power of the Holy Spirit would soften our hearts and cultivate the beautiful fruit of repentance. Paul equates that to the fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. As the Holy Spirit enables us, we can become loving, joy-filled, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled people. God, please help us all to produce the fruit of repentance.