Thursday, January 8, 2009
Matthew 2:10-11 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.
AS THEY OFFERED GIFTS . . .
As they offered gifts most rare At Thy cradle, rude and bare,
So may we with holy joy, Pure and free from sin's alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King!
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 127:3)
Rare gifts indeed! Gold -- a precious metal which still today is a priceless commodity; frankincense and myrrh -- products made from tree resin, treasured for their aroma, used in perfumes and for burials.
We wonder if it didn't strike the gift-bringers as odd to be offering such kingly gifts to One who did not look at all like a King. There was no palace, no crown, no regal surroundings, just "a house" (2:11). But nothing kept them from opening their treasures and proceeding: "they presented gifts to Him" (2:11).
They were not ashamed. By faith they knew who this young Child was. He was "the King of the Jews," God's own Son. May the Lord also keep us from being ashamed of Jesus, keep us from turning away from Him and the salvation He brings even though He is so lowly, so simple, so plain. Instead, let us join the Wise Men in laying before Him all our best, giving to Him who has given us His all!
