The three wise kings who came to see Jesus ( Jesus was probably about age 2) and brought with them gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These three gifts are symbolic.
"Gold was particularly associated with royalty and nobility.
The burning of frankincense was closely associated with ceremonial worship of a deity.
Myrrh was a key ingredient in the mixture of spices that were used to prepare bodies for burial.
Exodus 30 tells us that liquid myrrh was a main ingredient in the anointing oil used to ceremonially prepare the priests, the instruments, the altar, and the Temple itself before sacrifices could be made. Again, parallels to Jesus’ consecrated life and sacrificial death are immediately noticeable." (1)
Gold was to represent royalty as Jesus was considered Lord and King.
John 12:15
New International Version
15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”
Frankincense was used as comanded by God to Moses as an offering to God. Jesus was God incarnate or God in the flesh. The wise men understood this.
Leviticus 24:7
English Standard Version
7 And you shall put pure frankincense on each pile, that it may go with the bread as a memorial portion as a food offering to the Lord.
Myrrh being used as an anointing oil as to represent the prophetic sacrifice Jesus would give his life on the cross. Myrrh also being what would be used in preparation of Jesus's burial.
John 19:38-40
English Standard Version
Jesus Is Buried
38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
Sources:
(1) https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/gold-frankincense-and-myrrh.html
"Gold was particularly associated with royalty and nobility.
The burning of frankincense was closely associated with ceremonial worship of a deity.
Myrrh was a key ingredient in the mixture of spices that were used to prepare bodies for burial.
Exodus 30 tells us that liquid myrrh was a main ingredient in the anointing oil used to ceremonially prepare the priests, the instruments, the altar, and the Temple itself before sacrifices could be made. Again, parallels to Jesus’ consecrated life and sacrificial death are immediately noticeable." (1)
Gold was to represent royalty as Jesus was considered Lord and King.
John 12:15
New International Version
15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”
Frankincense was used as comanded by God to Moses as an offering to God. Jesus was God incarnate or God in the flesh. The wise men understood this.
Leviticus 24:7
English Standard Version
7 And you shall put pure frankincense on each pile, that it may go with the bread as a memorial portion as a food offering to the Lord.
Myrrh being used as an anointing oil as to represent the prophetic sacrifice Jesus would give his life on the cross. Myrrh also being what would be used in preparation of Jesus's burial.
John 19:38-40
English Standard Version
Jesus Is Buried
38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
Sources:
(1) https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/gold-frankincense-and-myrrh.html
-
2
- Show all
