Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Matthew 2

Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

What kind of faith must it have taken to see and child and worship him. I am pretty sure Joseph and Mary weren’t hanging out in a palace…it says house. Simeon and Anna in the temple had the same kind of faith so that when God showed them the child they responded openly. Not only were these wise men ready to display their faith, they had prepared for it and were ready for it. They brought gifts, albeit strange ones. As anyone who has studies Christmas much has heard about the meanings behind the three gifts. Gold is for kingship, incense is for priesthood, and myrrh is for burial. This is truly a unique combination and provides a basis for the whole of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus is our high priest, our king and king of the Jews, and he died. It is like Anna’s message to Mary—He will be great and a sword will pierce your own heart also. Greatness and lowness combined to be something greater than anyone had imagined.

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