What Did The Three Wise Kings Bring To Jesus

What Is the Significance of the Three Wise Men and Their Gifts?

Because I’ll be summarizing a lot of information, you can use the links provided to find additional information and references. According to the Wikipedia article,Jesus H. Christ, the expression appears to be uniquely American, and it was already in common use by the 19th century, as evidenced by a Mark Twain story that took place while he was working as a printer’s apprentice in 1847 (copied here from that article):recounts a practical joke a friend played on a revival preacher while Twain was an apprentice in a printing shop that Alexander Campbell, a famous evangelis While checking the galleys, Twain’s fellow apprentice, Wales McCormick, discovered that he needed to make room for some dropped words, which he accomplished by shortening Jesus Christ on the same line to J.

Fill in the blanks with everything.” And then some: he set up Jesus H.

The article goes on to say that the use of the expression declined, at least in print, until around 1930, but that it then began to be used more frequently again from 1970 to the present.

An explanation for this choice appears to be found in an ecclesiastical art form known as a Christogram (also known as a “divine monogram”), such as the “JHC” that I had seen in Cádiz, Spain.
The name “Jesus Christ” itself became a rich source of such symbols as time went on.
They can be found on priests’ and ministers’ vestments, on church banners, in inscriptions, and in paintings.
Of course, because the New Testament was written in Greek, those Christograms are based on Greek letters, with some transliterations to Roman letters thrown in for good measure (what modern English uses).
Spoiler alert: If you have a keen eye, you will notice that the capital eta (“”) resembles a Roman “H,” and as a result, you should be able to guess where this is going.
It is only because I studied Greek in college that I became aware of it for the first time.
To make it, you simply superimpose the first two letters of chi over each other.
I’m confident that now that you’ve seen it, you’ll recall having seen it previously.

Another early Christogram is theIX monogram, which takes the first letters of both words, the iota from and the chi from, and superimposes them over each other as follows: Here’s an illustration from a sarcophagus from the late third century AD in Constantinople: Another is the IH monogram, which is formed by superimposing the first two capital letters of the word “IH” over each other as follows: Surely, the resemblances between this Christogram and the company logo for International Harvester are coincidental, as I believe.

And then there’s a family of Christograms that actually contribute to the formation of the letter “H” in “Jesus H.
The Christogram “JHC” that I saw in Cádiz, as well as the Christogram “JHS” that appears on the vestments of the Archbishop of Canterbury in The Crown, fall into this category.
Here are two examples, the first of which is modern and the second of which is medieval: So what’s the deal with the variations?
Isn’t it true that the letter “J” in German still behaves in the same way?
Simple.
By the way, the interchangeability of the letters “I” and “J” was used as a minor plot point in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), where Indy has to spell out “Iehova” and makes the mistake of starting with the letter “J” and nearly falls through the floor as a result.
The “S” is straightforward, as it is simply a transliteration from Greek to Roman, but the “C” necessitates a little more explanation.

You can see the beginnings of the Roman “S” in that shape, though the proportions are different.

That is why I suggested that you use the first two and final letters of the Greek letter, because the final sigma looks very much like the letter “c.” However, it turns out that there’s a lot more to this than meets the eye.

It turns out that during the Hellenistic period (4th and 3rd centuries BCE), the symbol used for carving inscriptions was simplified to a C-shaped shape, according to archaeological evidence.

The Cyrillic alphabet, which was used by Russian and other Slavic languages, was based primarily on the Greek alphabet; the Cyrillic letter “C,” which is used for the “s” sound in these languages, appears to have originated from this lunate sigma (lunatic sigma).

However, the middle initial, the eta (“”), remains Greek in each variation.

According to Wikipedia (H), the letters “H” and “H” were derived from the Phoenicians, who had derived them from earlier sources.

If you are familiar with Russian, you should be aware that the Cyrillic letter “H” for the “n” sound is not related to the Greek letter.

The Cyrillic letter “H” simply represents the final result of a process that was only a temporary thing in Greek language.

Christ” originated from the IHC family of Christograms, particularly the one that I had seen in Cádiz, Spain, “JHC,” which on the surface appears to be somebody’s initials, namely those of “Jesus H.

The original Wikipedia article includes the following “explanation,” which is based on a biology joke: Speculative etymology In a joke made by biology students, the letter H is said to stand for “Haploid,” with the implication being that, according to the doctrine of the Virgin Birth, Jesus did not have a biological father and thus his genome would have been inherited entirely from his mother, the Virgin Mary.

In order to provide context for the joke’s scientific origins seePloidy.
Virgin birth, scientifically known as Parthenogenesis, is a real phenomenon that has been observed in nature, primarily in invertebrates, though it has also been observed in some fish, amphibians, and reptiles, as well as in birds on rare occasions.
Aside from that, the genetics of gender in reptiles differs significantly from that of mammals (ie, X and Y chromosomes).
Because all of the parthenogenetic kids would be complete clones of their mother, it is likely that they would all be females as well.
Armed with this knowledge (and a healthy dose of levity), we can easily see that the Virgin Birth poses a significant challenge to fundamental Christian theology and tradition.
Jessica Christ, are you serious?
As a result, Christian teaching is a vast cover-up designed to conceal the reality that the Christ was a woman from us.
Christ, cites an article written by Roger Smith as its source (The H of Jesus H.
American Speech 69:331-335, 1994).
Apparently, “Harold” is a person.

Smith (1994:32) suggests that the name “Harold” might have served as a foundation for a variant form of the name “Jesus Harold Christ.” The nickname “Harold” may have come about as a result of a common mistake (often made by youngsters) of the line “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” from the Lord’s Prayer.

There are also several varieties, not simply the letter “H.” What is Smith’s conclusion as a result of this?
Christ,” according to Smith, is full of hilarity – and blasphemy – because of the sheer number of spelling variations on the title.
stand for?
There are a variety of popular interpretations for the middle “H.” As I recall from my initial investigation, I was the first to notice how close the Greek letter eta (“H”) appeared to the English letter “H.” Alternatively, it’s possible that I saw this in the Wikipedia article,Jesus H.
JHS or JHC are all possible variations of the sign iota-eta-sigma, which is formed from the first three letters of the Greek name of Jesus ().
Smith proposes an explanation for how this learned-sounding term came to be used as the foundation for vulgar slang: it was observed by ordinary people when it was worn as an adornment on the vestments of Anglican (or, in America, Episcopal) clergy.

Despite the fact that I don’t recall it having any effect on my thoughts on the subject at the time, I now strongly suspect it was this experience that led me to learn about the lunate sigma – I had taken two semesters of Koine Greek and later a semester of classical Greek at university in the mid-70s without ever having heard of a lunate sigma.

Nevertheless, there are other additional explanations for this phenomenon, just as there are numerous other questions such as why West Coast Swingis danced in a slot (my personal favorite explanation is the drunken sailors on liberty in Long Beach, Calif).

It’s always entertaining to attempt to figure things out. I hope I’ve piqued your interest and given you something to consider. Please feel free to share and enjoy! The first time it was posted was on March 9, 2017. Updated on December 3, 2020.

What Was the Significance of Each of the Magi’s Gifts?

The hue and sheen of gold have made it a valuable precious metal throughout history, and it has been used to make jewelry, decorations, coinage, and idols. 2. Frankincense is a pricey aroma or perfume that is derived from plants found in India and Saudi Arabia. 3. Myrrhis is a unique type of expensive perfume manufactured from rare thorn plants in Arabia and Ethiopia that is used as an antiseptic anointing oil and embalming fluid, as well as an antiseptic anointing oil. While these gifts would have been unusual and expensive for the Magi to send to Jesus’ family in first-century Palestine, they were not unheard of in the ancient world.

They “honored the King.
In a similar vein, the fact that these gifts were pricey indicated the depth of their selfless love and devotion for the newborn King.
The Magi did not spend their gifts on anything; instead, they were praising one another.
is not the hope of becoming wealthy via your service to others.
So, in order to enjoy you more, rather than things, I am intensifying and demonstrating this desire by giving up things in the intention of enjoying you more rather than things.
God, on the other hand, makes it very plain in his word that he does not require anything that we have to offer.

As the apostles preached in the Book of Acts: “The God who created the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples built by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he required anything, because he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” The God who created the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples built by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though Moreover, he created from a single man every country of people to live on every continent of the planet, having defined allotted periods and the bounds of their living place, in order that they may seek God and, if they were lucky, discover him.

Even yet, Jesus is genuinely very close to everyone of us, for “in him we live, move, and have our being” (John 10:10). (Acts 17:24-28, ESV).

What Is the Deeper Spiritual Meaning Behind These Gifts?

The ancient church believed that the three sorts of gifts clearly symbolized three fundamental characteristics of Christ’s personality, and therefore they were divided into three categories. In this case, the gold represents Jesus’ monarchy, the frankincense represents his divinity, and the myrrh represents his humanity. As a matter of fact, some have argued that the Magi “preached” the gospel in a concrete sense through the gifts they bestowed upon the infant Jesus. Whether they realized it or not, their presents represented the tale of God himself, who descended from Heaven in the form of our King (gold) to perform his priestly responsibilities (frankincense) and finally die for our sins (frankincense) (myrrh).

At the beginning of Jesus’ life, as well as at the conclusion of his life, when he was hanging on the cross (Mark 15:23) and subsequently being buried in the tomb, this element was given to him here (John 19:39).

And, as a result of his resurrection, we have the opportunity to have eternal life.

First and foremost, we must understand that the central message of the Magi tale, gift-giving, and the remainder of the Christmas (or Advent) holiday is that Jesus Christ came to earth to die in order to provide salvation for sinners — meaning people like you and me — who have fallen away from God (1 Timothy 1:15;Luke 19:10).

Second, just as the Three Wise Men replied to the heavenly light above them by going to Jesus and worshipping him, the Christmas season calls on all of us to respond to Jesus in one way or another during this season of giving.
This is due to the fact that Christmas provides us with the gospel, and the gospel demands that we respond to it.
We must, however, make a decision about what we will worship.
When we bow our hearts to him and put our precious “gifts” in front of him, we are expressing that he alone can fulfill our hearts, and this is because Jesus is the one true King.
Whoever goes in search of him will find him every time.” iStock/Getty Images Plus/Gama5 are credited with this image.
The couple has been married since 2008 and have three children, Brooklyn, Bryson, and Abram.
After completing his undergraduate studies at North Greenville University in South Carolina, Robert went on to complete his Masters at Liberty University in Virginia.
He has worked in a number of roles including worship pastor, youth pastor, family pastor, church planter, and presently Pastor of Worship and Discipleship at Cheraw First Baptist Church.

To serve God and His Church, he has set himself a life purpose of reaching the unreached with the gospel, discipling and inspiring others to go even farther in their spiritual journeys, and establishing a culture of multiplication for the glory of God. More information on him may be found here.

Here’s What History Can Tell Us About the Magi

Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25, but the tale of Christmas does not end there. In many Western Christian traditions, Christmas is celebrated over 12 days, with the feast of the Epiphany falling on January 6, the culmination of the season. Many people think that’s when the “Magi,” or “wise men,” or “three kings,” came to view the newborn infant Jesus for the first time. But were any of these individuals influenced by real-life historical figures? It is difficult to link their depictions to specific individuals, but their descriptions in the Gospel of Matthew, which are only a few sentences long, do correspond to current understandings of the world at the time the Gospel was written, which is thought to have occurred sometime between 70 CE and 85 CE.

Also absent from the record is any indication of the number of males in attendance.

Immediately after Jesus’ birth at the town of Bethlehem in Judea, which was then under the reign of the Roman King Herod, according to Matthew’s Gospel, “certain men who studied the stars came from the East to Jerusalem and inquired, ‘Where is the infant born to be the king of the Jews?'” Our attention was drawn to his star as it rose in the East, and we have come to adore him.” They arrived at Jesus and Mary’s home after following the light of a star, and they brought presents of gold, frankincense and myrrh to them, as described in the Gospel.

Gold was then, as it is now, a symbol of riches and power.

According to Kristin Swenson, an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University and author of the forthcomingA Most Peculiar Book: The Inherent Strangeness of the Bible, myrrh is a “outlier” in the Bible.

Swenson explains that Jesus is served wine with myrrh before his crucifixion because it is a painkiller in Mark 15:23, and this is because myrrh is a natural analgesic.

It is clear from the lavish presents that these Eastern guests are “people of immense money and power,” as Swenson puts it, since they “bring things that are kind of evident based on the things they bring.” “They are referred to as Magi in Greek, which was a title that referred to a category of Persian priests at the time of the Greek invasion.

“Their orientation was considerably more in the direction of what we would today characterize as scientific.” Looking to a star is “very much in keeping with the religious tradition of this place at the time of looking to the heavens, the stars, and the planets for information about the gods’ wishes and doings, and some stars or planets were identified with God.” Looking to a star is “very much in keeping with the religious tradition of this place at the time of looking to the heavens, the stars, and the planets for information about the gods’ wishes and doings” The author of the Gospel of Matthew also points out that the Gospel of Matthew portrays a prophecy from hundreds of years earlier, found in the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament, in which the nations of the world recognize Israel as the light of the world and celebrate this recognition with gifts of gold, frankincense, and other valuable gifts.

TIME magazine’s cover article “Secrets of the Nativity,” published on December 13, 2004, highlighted decades of efforts to make sense of the Magi, as well as the numerous futile searches for tangible proof of the nativity scene: After all, from whence exactly in the Orient (which literally translates as “East”) were they coming from?

It is possible that the presents they carried–gold, frankincense, and myrrh–were brought by camel trains from Arabia, as described in unrelated Bible accounts from Sheba and Midian, both of which are located on the peninsula.
The most fortunate of all the guesses turned out to be the one made in the 4th century by the designers of the Church of the Nativity in Palestine, whose golden entrance mosaic showed the Magi clothed as Persians, who were also well-known stargazers at the time.
The Magi enjoyed a long and fruitful postbiblical existence.
Their number, which fluctuated from two to twelve in different tales, finally settled on three, most likely as a result of their three gifts.
This is how a medieval Irish account of the guy described him: “The first is supposed to have been.
beardless and ruddy-complexioned.
Researchers have speculated that the combination was either intended to emphasize Christianity’s global ambitions or pointed back to an earlier varied threesome, Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, as a point of reference.

Melchior died on January 1st, at the age of 116; St.

Gaspar died on January 11th, at the age of 109.” Many modern Christmas customs depict these three wise men in a way that is influenced by medieval art.

In popular imagination, paintings by painters such as Botticelli, Peter Paul Rubens, and Hieronymus Bosch (as seen above) contributed to solidifying the idea of the Magi as a varied bunch of men.

in 1857, is perhaps the most famous musical depiction of the three men.

And, just as interpretations of the Magi evolved over time in response to events in the world, so too will current events influence how individuals find meaning in the Bible in order to make sense of their own lives.

While doing so, it is critical to remember and acknowledge that we are reimagining for our times texts that, in some cases, defy our expectations, at times confound us with contradictions, and, unless we read them in their ancient Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek originals, rely on translations that are themselves interpreted.” Write to Olivia B.

Waxman at the following address: [email protected].

Why Did the Wise Men Bring Gifts to Jesus?

The biblical narrative of Jesus’ birth tells of three wise men journeying a long way from the east to offer gifts to the infant Christ child at Bethlehem. When giving gifts to a tiny child, what is the motivation behind it? Who did these gentlemen suppose they were paying homage to?

Confused customs

The Bible does not specify the precise number of wise men that came to see Jesus at His birth in a manger, and they were not present at His birth in a manger, as is commonly represented in nativity scenes every December. Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of Herod the Great, behold, wise men from the East traveled to Jerusalem to pay homage to the newborn king. 11 When they entered the house, they were amazed to see the little Child with Mary, His mother, and they immediately dropped on their knees and worshiped Him.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV) was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson and is known as the New King James Version (NKJV).

“Now, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea during the reign of Herod the Great, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem to worship him.” When they entered the house, they were amazed to see the little Child with Mary, His mother, and they immediately dropped on their knees and worshiped Him.

There are many others.
Read some of these eye-opening evaluations of frequently held traditions to have a better understanding of them.
What prompted these gentlemen to believe it was suitable to make a presentation?
The answer exposes an often-overlooked fact about the Son of God that is worth considering.

Gifts fit for a king

2. “Where has He gone who was born King of the Jews?” they inquired. It is for this reason that we have come to worship Him after having seen His star in the East.” The New King James Version (NKJV)The Holy Bible, New King James Version 1982 by Thomas Nelson”>Matthew 2:2 informs us that the wise men came in search of a king. The New King James Version (NKJV)The Holy Bible, New King James Version 1982 by Thomas Nelson”> When they were asked where they could locate the Savior of mankind, they didn’t say anything.

Because of the Christian tradition’s 2,000-year history, the majority of people now conceive of Jesus only in terms of being the one who “takes away the sin of the world” (29).
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Of course, He went ahead and did it.
However, there is another position that Christ will play that is sometimes ignored, but one that is consistently stressed in the Gospels: that of a governing monarch over a kingdom of nations.
Luke 1:32 New King James Version (NKJV)The Holy Bible, New King James Version 1982 by Thomas Nelson”>The Holy Bible, New King James Version”>Luke 1:32.
In fact, this was exactly what the followers of Jesus were expecting (21 ).
Indeed, on top of everything else, today marks the third day since these events occurred.
Consequently, after they had gathered, they approached Him and asked: “Lord, would You return the kingdom to Israel at this time?” He replied affirmatively.

Acts 1:6). New King James Version (NKJV)The Holy Bible, New King James Version 1982 by Thomas Nelson”>The Holy Bible, New King James Version”>Acts 1:6).

Looking for the Messiah …

The Jews had been looking forward to the arrival of the Messiah for a long time. He would be a descendant of David, and he would bring in the predicted age of restored grandeur in a new kingdom (6:1). It is because of this that we have a Child, that we have been given a Son, and that the government will rest on His shoulders. And His name will be Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace, among other titles. The Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV) was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson and is known as the New King James Version (NKJV).

The Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV) was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson and is known as the New King James Version (NKJV) “Isaiah 11:2 and 13 are two of the most important verses in the Bible.
He arrived at the Temple of the Ancient of Days, and the priests drew Him close to Him.
His dominion is an immortal dominion that will never be destroyed, and his kingdom is a kingdom that will never be destroyed as long as the earth exists.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV) was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson and is known as the New King James Version (NKJV) “Matt.

The Son of God

Only a few people today realize that when a first-century Jew heard the term “son of God,” he was more likely to think of worldly rulership and divine appointment than of a position in the heavenly hierarchy. Biblically, the term “son of God” can refer to any exclusive relationship with God (the angels are referred to as “sons of God” in 6). There came a time when the sons of God gathered to show themselves before the Lord, and Satan was there among them. The Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV) was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson and is known as the New King James Version (NKJV).

Born—King of the Jews

Few people now realize that when a first-century Jew heard the phrase “son of God,” he was more likely to think of worldly rulership and divine appointment than of a position in the triune God. According to the Bible, the term “son of God” can refer to any exclusive connection with God (the angels are referred to as “sons of God” in Genesis 6). After that, there came a day when the sons of God gathered to offer themselves before the Lord, and Satan was among them. The Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV) was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson and is known as the New King James Version (or NKJV).

Afterwards, you must tell Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord: Israel is My son, My firstborn.” The Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV) was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson and is known as the New King James Version (or NKJV) “(See Exodus 4:22 for further information).
In 7 Samuel, David was addressed as God’s son.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV) was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson and is known as the New King James Version (or NKJV).
I will establish your offspring after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his dominion after your days are completed and you have gone to your fathers.
14 In this world, I will be his Father, and he will be My son.
However, as I did with Saul, whom I removed before you, My kindness will not be taken away from him.
“The New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson and is known as the “Holy Bible, New King James Version.” “(See also 2 Samuel 7:12-16.) Thesesons of Godactually served as God’s emissaries, reigning on His behalf from His kingdom in Jerusalem.

(23 Then Solomon succeeded David as king on the throne of the Lord, and all of Israel submitted to him.

At some point, fulfilling this job would be a wonderful messianic mission.

Moreover, He was the ultimate Son of God in the kingly or messianic meaning; He was the One who had a divinely ordained destiny to be the heir to David’s kingdom, as was revealed in the Old Testament.

You are the King of Israel!” says Nathanael in verse 49.

You are the King of Israel!” The concepts appeared to be synonymous in his mind, according to what I observed.

He grew to think that Jesus was the predicted son of David for whom Israel had been waiting; the One who was destined to restore the magnificence of David’s (God’s) earthly throne to its former splendor and glory.

Christ’s Kingdom still to come

Humans can be reconciled to God, have their sins forgiven, and finally be allowed eternal life in the Kingdom of God because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as our Savior. His arrival on our planet, however, was as the King of that Kingdom—theKing of Kings and Lord of Lordswho would reign on this planet during the approaching millennium. Christ will reign over the nations from Jerusalem, on the throne of David that has been restored (32 He will be renowned, and he will be known as the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will grant Him the throne of David, which he will sit on.

And there were thunderous voices in heaven proclaiming, “The kingdoms of this world have been transformed into the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever!” The Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV) was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson and is known as the New King James Version (NKJV) “Revelation 11:15 (New International Version).

You may discover more about this wonderful Kingdom of God and how God is preparing individuals to rule with Christ at that time by reading the enlightening writings on these themes that can be found here on this website.

Why Did the Wise Men Give Jesus Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh?

This post was written by the BMC Team on December 21, 2017 and was first published on NoWhy392Gold Frankincense and Myrrh by Marilyn Barbone through Adobe Stock. As the scriptures say, “Behold, he offers himself as a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, to those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto no one else can the ends of the law be replied” (Isaiah 53:6).

The Know

Shortly after Jesus’ birth, three “wise men from the east” came to see Him and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:1). It is important to note that all of these presents were incredibly costly and expensive, and they were acceptable gifts for the “king of the Jews,” as the wise men referred to Jesus (v.2). Many people, however, have demonstrated that these presents may also serve as a symbolic gesture. gold was considered to signify Christ’s reign since crowns were customarily made of gold in ancient times.

3Moreover, because myrrh was used in the embalming of Jesus, it was believed to be a foreshadowing of Christ’s death.

While the Book of Mormon does not chronicle these gifts that Christ received, it does make mention of Christ’s responsibilities as king and priest, as well as His death and resurrection, which are all mentioned.

Christ as King

In the Book of Mormon, the concept of Christ as King comes on a number of occasions. Many people, however, are unaware of this since the Book of Mormon frequently use the term “king” in ways that modern readers equate with other things. The term Christ, for example, comes from the Greek phrase meaning “anointed one,” and it is frequently used to refer to monarchs who were anointed when they were crowned as rulers (see 2 Samuel 2:4). 5 ‘Messiah’ is the Greek term that corresponds to the Hebrew word of the same name, which has the same meanings.

Christ as Priest

In 2 Nephi 2:7, the Book of Mormon refers to Christ’s duty as a priest, which is one of the few instances when this is mentioned. As the scriptures say, “Behold, he offers himself as a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, to those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto no one else can the ends of the law be replied” (Isaiah 53:6). 8 The offering of a sacrifice is mentioned 49 times in the Old Testament, while it is mentioned 5 times in the Book of Mormon. 10 Offering a sacrifice refers to the practice of offering sacrifices in accordance with the Law of Moses in all cases.

Christ’s Death and Resurrection

In the Book of Mormon, the power of Christ’s death and resurrection is exemplified, and it demonstrates that Christ’s death is necessary for all humanity: “Behold, they will crucify him; and after he has been laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days, he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God” (2 Nephi 25:13).

12 When it comes to “redeeming the people,” the Book of Mormon is unequivocal in its assertion that “the redemption of the people” is brought about “by the power, and afflictions, and death of Christ, and his resurrection and ascension into heaven” (Mosiah 18:2).

The Why

Knowing that Christ is the ruler of the universe can provide solace to our troubled lives in a world where chaos sometimes reigns supreme. 13Christ reigns supreme over all that exists, and he will ultimately prevail over evil, no matter how much evil we may be subjected to on a daily basis. 14Because Christ is king, we may have peace with one another. Knowing that Christ is, in the words of the author of Hebrews, “an high priest of good things to come,” (Hebrews 9:11), may also be of assistance to us as we navigate through life’s challenges.

16However, Christ has “entered once into the holy place, having gained eternal redemption for us” through the shedding of his own blood (Hebrews 9:12).

17 Finally, because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we may all triumph over death and agony in our lives.

18Especially during the Christmas season, we may all reflect on the power of Christ’s Atonement and resurrection, as well as the strength He possesses to assist us in our own lives and struggles.

19These gifts, provided by the three wise men, serve as a reminder to us all of the treasures that Christ has given to us. These gifts have the potential to provide us with hope, reconciliation with God, and release from death.

Why Were Gold, Incense, and Myrrh Appropriate Gifts for Jesus?

Then, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and inquired as to the whereabouts of the child who had been born king of the Jews. As a result, we have come to revere him since we witnessed his star as it rose.’ In the midst of their adoration, they discovered the infant with Mary his mother, and they dropped on their knees and worshipped him. Then, when they opened their riches, they presented him with presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:1–2; Matthew 2:1–11) We know very little about the wise men based on the biblical narrative.

“We Three Kings of Orient Are,” as the song goes, is sung.
That they were kings, or even when they landed in Bethlehem, is not revealed in the Bible.
That very little information is provided on the wise men certainly indicates that Matthew’s attention was not drawn to the wise men themselves as a subject of study.
A literary critic would pay particular attention to the presents since they appear at the conclusion of the story after the kid has been discovered and so occupy a prominent position in the narrative.

Gold

It is simple to see why gold is a suitable present for the Lord Jesus Christ. Gold is considered to be the metal of kings.

When Jesus was given with gold, it was an acknowledgement of his authority to govern. The wise men were aware that Jesus was the King of kings and that he was the Messiah. When Jesus was given with gold, it was an acknowledgement of his authority to govern.

Incense

Incense was also given as a thoughtful gift. It was employed in the temple’s religious ceremonies. It was used in conjunction with the oil that was used to anoint the priests of the nation of Israel. It was included in the meal offerings, which were intended to be expressions of gratitude and worship to God. They did so in order to draw attention to Christ as our great High Priest, the one whose entire life had been acceptable and well pleased to his Father.

Myrrh

Additionally, incense was given as a present. During temple rituals, it was employed as a talisman. As an anointing oil for the priests of Israel, it was combined with the oil. It was included in the meal offerings, which were intended to be expressions of gratitude and praise to God on behalf of the congregation. They did so in order to draw attention to Christ as our great High Priest, the one whose entire life had been acceptable and well pleased to his heavenly Father.

What Gifts Do You Offer?

There is a sense in which we, too, may offer our gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh on the basis of our faith. Make a start with your myrrh. Aside from representing Christ’s death, myrrh represents the spiritual death that should befall you as a result of your transgression against the law. “Lord Jesus Christ, I recognize that I am less perfect than you are and that I am a sinner,” you should say as you lay it at Christ’s feet. As a result of my sin, I am aware that I will be permanently barred from your presence, and I accept this responsibility.

That is what I believe.
According to the Bible, there is no good in man that is not tainted by evil.
Finally, bring your gold with you.
As a result, by bringing your gold, you are acknowledging Christ’s authority over your life.
Provide direction and guidance in my life so that I may mature spiritually and be able to appreciate and serve you as you deserve.” If you have arrived believing in everything that the myrrh, incense, and gold imply, you have entered on a journey of immense spiritual delight and blessing.
They are the only things we have to offer to the one who has given us everything through his grace and mercy.

From 1982 until 2000, JAMES MONTGOMERY BOICE served as senior minister of Philadelphia’s historic Tenth Presbyterian Church and as an outspoken advocate for the Reformed religion. He died in June 2000 after a thirty-year tenure.

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Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh – The Truth About Their Significance

Everywhere you look this month, you’ll see children acting out the nativity scene, and at the conclusion of the star-guided journey, you’ll see the Three Wise Men, dressed in dazzling dress-up robes and bearing a gift for each child. The Magi are a part of our Christmas customs, but there is a lot to learn about their role in the birth, particularly regarding the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh they brought with them. What is the importance of the gold, frankincense, and myrrh in the New Testament?

Biblical Account of the Magi

This month, children all across the world will recreate the Nativity, with the Three Wise Men, dressed in glittering dress-up robes and bearing a gift for each child, bringing the story to a close. We all know about the Magi and their participation to the birth, but there is much more to learn about their role, especially in terms of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, than we realize. How important are gold, frankincense, and myrrh in the story of Jesus’ birth?

Three Gifts from the East – Gold, FrankincenseMyrrh

The Magi, in contrast to the imagery we have in mind of three men each bearing a gift, are not numbered. The tale has been embellished by church history and custom to include the names of the men who actually brought the presents – Melchior giving gold, Caspar bringing frankincense, and Balthasar delivering myrrh. (2) Despite this, portrayals of the Magi have changed significantly since their initial iterations, and no one can agree on the exact number of visitors in total. Their gifts to the young Jesus were described as “opening their riches” in Matthew’s narrative.

We aren’t talking about a handful of birthday presents here — regardless of the exact names and quantities, these were definitely affluent men traveling in a caravan with a lot of reputation and a lot to give the world.

1. Gold

The Magi were on their way to congratulate the newly crowned king, thus gold makes sense as a recognition of royalty. Gold was a precious metal that was also attractive and long-lasting. Gold, according to most scholars, symbolized Jesus’ status as a king who would reign forever on an endless throne of glory. That relic belonged in the possession of royalty, even if that royalty resided in the house of a young, impoverished family. Some feel that the gold was something altogether else, which is a fascinating notion that is a little on the edge.

Unless it was a gold-en spice like turmeric, as some people believe it was, gold appears out of place — one of these things is not like the other – This line of reasoning may even be traced back to the production of balsam oil, which is obtained from the resin of balsam trees that grow in the same climate and location as the origins of frankincense and myrrh.

It has a component “renowned for its anti-inflammatory, local anesthetic, and antifungal activities,” and it was formerly called the Balm of Gilead.

(3) In either case, the kingly overtones persist, and the message of the Magi is clear: this small infant was to be treated as royalty, regardless of the circumstances!

2. Frankincense

There’s no big surprise here, and there’s no outlandish notion that implies something surprising. Only an antique incense that is still useful now may be described as such. Traditionally, the gift of frankincense was seen as an affirmation of Jesus’ priesthood, distinguishing him from a conventional king and establishing him as a unique figure. Frankincense was employed in the temple’s rituals, and priests would burn it in a ceremonial fire. Because it was not indigenous to that region, acquiring frankincense from the east was a time-consuming and expensive endeavor.

Because we now have the ability to evaluate the qualities and modes of action that substances such as frankincense resin and its essential oil maintain, we can discover benefits that go beyond aroma and ceremonial purposes.

Our understanding has expanded to include immune regulating properties, which might explain why it is used for both inflammatory sickness and antibacterial reasons.

3. Myrrh

Myrrh, the most bittersweet of the presents, had been introduced to Egypt in large quantities for funeral ceremonies, and the practice had spread across the region. Myrrh was associated with death and burial even if it was not used in the mummification process. A depressing present for a new mother to grasp, but one that is lovely when viewed through the lens of her comprehension of his mission. But was it all that themyrrhwas meant to do? While myrrh was traditionally used for ceremonial purposes in the Middle East, it was also utilized for therapeutic purposes in the Far East.

Myrrh was utilized in ancient China for similar purposes, including wound healing and hemorrhage control.

In the same way that prophetic statements frequently had both immediate and long-term implications, it is possible that these talents followed a similar dual pattern.

Whatever the case, it’s entertaining to be entertained — the subtleties of Scripture never fail to astound me!

(6) While both the temple and Jesus’ improvised cradle were packed with fragrant compounds, they were also working to battle sickness and protect the people who lived in the vicinity.

The three Magi, according to certain early church history documents, reunited years later to celebrate Christmas with one another, soon before they died.

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