IN THIS Sunday’s gospel (Matthew 2:1-12), we read about the wise men offering the Baby Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Of all other gifts that may be given, modern people like us cannot help but wonder why these items in particular? Why not clothes, a baby crib, toys, or perhaps, money? Fact is that there are deeper meanings beyond each gift.
Gold was a precious metal in the ancient world, just as it still is today. It was an indicator of wealth. Abram (later Abraham), for instance, was considered wealthy because of his immense possession of gold, in addition to silver and livestock (Genesis 13:2). Gold was so highly valued, that in has been customary to give it as a gift when visiting royalties. An example is the story in 1 Kings 10 when, in visiting King Solomon, the queen of Sheba gave as a gift large quantities of gold. Thus, in gifting Jesus with gold, the wise men acknowledged that the newborn baby was indeed a king.
Frankincense, on the other hand, comes from beads of dried resin in barks of certain trees. When burned, it produces a desirable scent. In the olden times, its major use was not in households but in temples, that is, for ceremonial worship. Thus, in offering frankincense, the wise men hinted the divinity of Jesus. The baby they were visiting was not only a man; he was God himself.
Lastly, myrrh is a fragrant spice derived from the sap of a tree. Mixed with other spices, it is used to prepare bodies for burial. In giving him myrrh, the wise men recognized the humanity of Jesus. He, too, will suffer death. Later in the gospel, we see that in John 19:39-40, Nicodemus anointed the dead body of the crucified Jesus with myrrh and aloes.
The three gifts, therefore, symbolized the kingship, divinity and humanity of Jesus. As king, he owns everything – the earth, the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1). Jesus has supreme authority over anything and anyone; he exercises sovereignty over all.
As Divine Being, Jesus is the Son of God. He is the Second Person of the Trinity. He was what John referred to at the very beginning of the gospel he wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
Yet, in his great love for us, Jesus humbled himself with our humanity. He could have chosen an easier way to save us from sin, but love beyond measure inflamed him to embrace the cross as the means to our salvation. He offered his life to satisfy God’s justice on the penalty for our sins, that if only we believe in him, we shall receive his free gift of eternal life.
God’s offer of salvation is for all; it is not only for the people of Israel. The wise men who visited the baby in Bethlehem were not Jews. They were Gentiles who came from the East. Thus, right upon his birth, Jesus has already shown us the universality of the Christian faith. Anyone from whatever nation, race, ethnicity, color, language, gender and status in life is always free to come to him in faith, humility and obedience.