As a child, I remember my mom sharing one of her own favorite childhood memories. It was Christmastime and all of the gifts from Grandma were wrapped and under the tree. My mom’s brother and their cousins looked on in anticipation of what they would get on Christmas morning. My mom however was a bit dismayed because her gift seemed rather small. She was so concerned in fact, that she went to her mom and disappointedly asked whether or not her grandmother really loved her, because after all, her gift was so much smaller than everyone else’s gift.
On Christmas morning, my mom finally got to open the very small gift. What she found was an aspirin bottle… full of dimes. Wide-eyed, she emptied the bottle and slowly counted the dimes, over and over again, in total disbelief at the immense value. She knew that this was a gift of tremendous value and while her mind spun with ideas of how those dimes could be spent, she immediately pulled a few out and declared that she would return them to Jesus when she went to church on Sunday. Her doubt had quickly turned to belief, her disappointment to gratitude, and her skepticism to worship.
Over 2,000 years ago, Matthew tells us in chapter 2, verse 11 of his book, regarding the Magi, “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, frankincense and myrrh.” The Magi brought gifts of great value and they did so from a place of belief, gratitude, and worship.
Scholars indicate that these gifts of the Magi had specific meanings. The gold suggested royalty. It was a customary gift reserved for the highest of nobility, hence, there appeared to be an understanding of Jesus’ majesty. The frankincense represented divinity. This was a costly incense, used in royal Jewish burials, directly connected to the ceremonial worship of a deity. Myrrh likely represented Christ’s humanity. Myrrh is a fragrant spice, used as a perfume or anointing oil in the preparation of a body for burial.
The fact that the Magi brought these three particular gifts demonstrates their understanding of who it was that they were coming to worship. Did they ever doubt? Were they disappointed when they saw that the King was a baby? Did they experience skepticism yet still chose to worship knowing that they had been led there by God Almighty? Chances are that they questioned, yet they followed God’s leading and worshipped their King.
Where do you find yourself this Christmas Day? Doubt, disappointment, and skepticism are natural responses in a world full of confusion and dismay. For today though, would you consider worship? A simple, “I don’t fully get this but I worship you, my Lord” is all that Jesus is asking. You may not have gold, frankincense, or myrrh to offer, but God delights in your simple offer of a heart of worship.
Merry Christmas to you wherever you are today. We love and value you, and more importantly, Jesus sees you, loves you, and calls you his own. From all of us here at Emmanuel Faith, blessings to you and your loved ones on this wonderful Christmas Day!
Lynette Fuson
Care & Counseling Director