Gifts for Jesus

Matthew 2:1-11

In the OT, Israelites were more skillful and wise than pagan magicians and wise men. In Gen 41, Joseph could interpret Pharoah’s dreams but his wisemen couldn’t. In Exo 7-10, Moses and Aaron could perform miracles which Pharaoh’s magicians couldn’t. In Dan 2, Daniel could interpret visions which Pharoah’s wisemen couldn’t. The tables turn in Matt 2 when foreign wisemen prove to be wiser and more perceptive than the Israelite people.

When Jesus was born into the world as a human child, his own people failed to give him the recognition he deserved as God’s King. So, when these wise men from Far East pagan lands saw a noteworthy star rise over Israel, they set out on an arduous 1-2 yr. journey so they could worship him.

These wise men – probably more than three – were ancient scholars who studied the cycles, movements, occurrences and patterns of celestial bodies in the solar system. They also studied various historical documents, prophecies, and oral traditions passed down through generations and cultures, tracing back to the earliest generations.

They may have believed in the Messiah prophesied throughout the Old Testament – this person who could come from God as a king and Savior. They would have known about this from their research and awareness of Old Testament prophecies, likely due in large part to the influence of the OT prophet Daniel and his friends who had themselves become influential advisors to ancient pagan kings who had taken them as prisoners of war.

Num 24:17, for instance, prophesies: “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; a star shall come out of Jacob; a scepter shall rise out of Israel…” This prophecy would have motivated them to notice this special star associated with Christ’s birth and to travel to the destination that it marked out.

When these wise men arrived at Joseph and Mary’s home in Bethlehem, they presented the young Christ child – likely a toddler at this point – with gifts. These gifts were not children’s toys! They were honorific gifts typically associated with royalty. These gifts – gold, frankincense, and myrrh – were costly, precious metals, perfumes, and spices of incredible value. The only other person who came close to offering a similar degree of costly acknowledgment of Christ’s honor and worth was the woman who poured a container of expensive oil on Christ’s feet decades later, oil worth up to a full-year’s salary.

So, we give our annual accolades to these wise men for getting it right. Yet, though Jesus certainly deserved to be recognized this way as a royal king, as the king of the universe, are these the gifts that he most desires? Together, let’s take a quick look at what we should be offering to Christ in return for his coming to Earth to deliver us from our sins and to be our king forever.

Your Body

Rom 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

As your God and Savior, Christ desires for you to devote your body to his care and service. This means a serious follower of Christ will no longer view his or her body as belonging exclusively to him- or herself but rather to God. So, we should care for our bodies and do things with our bodies which show that we care about what he cares about and value what he values.

So, we should take attend to our personal fitness and health for his sake and should exert ourselves in doing things which show that he is king of our lives, and which help to accomplish his mission and expand his kingdom in the world.

Making Disciples

Rom 15:16 says, “that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”

This “offering of the Gentiles” is another sort of gift that Christ desires – more than frankincense, gold, or myrrh. It is those people whom God enables us to direct and lead to faith in Christ and following him. It is those people whom you have reached with the gospel.

At this Christmastime, let me ask who are those people you have reached with the gospel? Who is your gift to him in this way?

Serving Others

Phil 2:17 says, “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.”

Here Paul describes his ministry to the believers in the church at Philippi as a drink offering, which was a mixture of fragrant incense and oil poured onto an OT sacrifice to enhance its aroma and flavor. In this way, Paul viewed his ministry to other people – counseling, encouraging, mentoring, teaching, and meeting their other needs – as an offering to God. In this way, he was not seeking praise or recognition for his service but was endeavoring to pour himself into the lives of others to enhance their effectiveness and fruitfulness instead.

Who are you serving in the church today, motivated to give back to God by investing yourself in the lives of others?

Material Things

Phil 4:18 says, “Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.”

Here Paul refers to a generous gift which the believers at Philippi had given to Paul while he suffered in prison for preaching the gospel. This gift consisted of financial and material resources which they had donated to meeting his needs.

When you give money and other resources to church and ministry causes, you should do so generously and liberally because you are not giving to a cause but to Christ himself.

Songs of Praise

Heb 13:15 says, “Therefore by him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.”

Finally, we read that “the fruit of our lips – giving thanks to his name” is another gift we can offer to Christ. This should inspire us to praise God with our lips through comments and songs of praise. Expressions of gratitude and songs of praise should roll from our lips enthusiastically and frequently. Do they for you?

As we celebrate Christmas, give gifts to one another, and consider the gifts which some wisemen gave to Christ, let us consider what Christ desires for us to give to him. Which of these five gifts can you give back to Christ in the coming year ahead with more diligence and focus?

All of this, of course, cannot earn God’s favor, for we are saved by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone. It is he who has given us the most priceless, valuable gift of all: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23). And as Paul exclaimed: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”