We have probably heard of the three wise men who came in search of Jesus after He was born. They were astrologers who studied the stars that portended certain events. They found Him, worshiped Him and presented three gifts to Him.Matthew 2:1-2,10-11 (NKJV) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”…. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (emphasis added)
They fell down and worshiped Jesus which was not a normal civil homage to a Jewish king. It was a spiritual homage because their actions proved it when they opened their treasures and presented them to Jesus. In these three gifts we see who Jesus is, what He came to do and what it cost Him.
Firstly, they presented gold to Jesus who is the King of kings.
Revelation 17: 14 (NKJV) These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” (emphasis added)
Secondly, they presented “Frankincense” which is an aromatic resin. Frankincense was often used by the priest in the temple for sacrifice. Jesus came as the High Priest and also as the sacrificial lamb for our sins.
Hebrews 9:11-12 (NKJV) But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. (emphasis added)
Jesus is our great High Priest who offered up His blood as the ultimate sacrifice in the heavenly tabernacle. He is seated at the right hand of the Heavenly Father because His ultimate sacrifice has brought about peace between God and men.
Thirdly, they presented “myrrh” which was used in perfumed ointments and the embalmment of the dead. The purpose of Jesus’ birth was to be the ultimate sacrifice through His death on the cross.
These 3 gifts tell us about Jesus’ title, His humility to become a sacrifice, and ultimately His obedience unto death.
The three wise men came in search for Jesus, knelt down in worship when they found him. They didn’t come in search of favor from Him. They came to worship Him for who He is. There must have been a reverential awe of God in that manger that day! Do we have a reverential awe of God? Do we physically just come to church during Christmas, New Year and Easter but our hearts are far away from Him? God wants a heart that is 100% devoted to Him, all of our heart, soul and mind.
Christmas is a time for us to remind ourselves that God came in great humility. He came with the purpose of dying for us and saving us. He came because He loved us. Let us respond with a heart of gratitude and worship.
Sermon Series: Christmas
三个博士和他们的礼物
我们或许听说过耶稣出生后有三个博士来寻找祂。他们是研究预示某些事件星象的占星家。他们找到了耶稣，敬拜祂并给了祂三件礼物。
马太福音 2:1-2 10-11当希律王的时候，耶稣生在犹太的伯利恒。有几个博士从东方来到耶路撒冷，说：“那生下来作犹太人之王的在哪里？我们在东方看见他的星，特来拜他。” 他们看见那星，就大大地欢喜；进了房子，看见小孩子和他母亲马利亚，就俯伏拜那小孩子，揭开宝盒，拿黄金、乳香、没药为礼物献给他。
他们俯伏敬拜耶稣，这不是对犹太王的正常礼仪。这是一种属灵的敬意，因为当他们打开自己的宝盒献给耶稣时，他们的行动证明了这一点。从这三件礼物中，我们可以看出耶稣是谁，祂来做什么以及祂所付出的代价。
首先，他们把黄金献给耶稣，祂是万王之王。
启示录 17:14 他们与羔羊争战，羔羊必胜过他们，因为羔羊是万主之主、万王之王。同着羔羊的，就是蒙召、被选、有忠心的，也必得胜。”
其次，他们献上乳香，是一种芳香的树脂。乳香经常被祭司用来在圣殿里献祭。耶稣作为大祭司来到世上，也为我们的罪成为了献祭的羔羊。
希伯来书 9:11-12 但现在基督已经来到，作了将来美事的大祭司，经过那更大更全备的帐幕，不是人手所造，也不是属乎这世界的；并且不用山羊和牛犊的血，乃用自己的血，只一次进入圣所，成了永远赎罪的事。
耶稣是我们的大祭司，祂在天上的帐幕里献出了祂的宝血而成了最终的献祭。祂坐在天父宝座的右边，因为祂最终的献祭带来了神与人之间的和平。
他们献上的第三个礼物是没药，是用来包裹于死者身上的香料。耶稣出生的目的是要藉着祂在十字架上的受死而成为最终的献祭。
这三个礼物告诉我们耶稣的称号，祂谦卑献祭，存心顺服，以至于死。
这三个博士为寻找耶稣而来，他们找到了就向祂俯伏敬拜。他们来不是为了从耶稣那里寻求帮助，他们是为了祂是谁而要来敬拜祂。那天的马槽里一定充满了对神的敬畏! 我们对神是否有敬畏之心? 我们真的只是在圣诞节、新年和复活节的时候去教会，但我们的心却离祂很远? 神要得到的是100%奉献给祂，我们全部的心意，灵魂和意念。
圣诞节是让我们提醒自己的时候，神是以极大的谦卑降临。祂来的目的是为我们受死并拯救我们。祂来是因为祂爱我们。让我们用感恩和敬拜的心来回应祂吧。
讲章系列：圣诞节