Title Let's prepare the best gift
Contents
Text: Matthew 2:1-12
Before Christmas, I think deeply about Jesus.
①Jesus is the King. He is the King of kings and the King of kings (Matthew 1:1, 27:11; Philippians 2:9-10).
②Jesus is a priest. He is the eternal high priest who is more precious than the high priest who follows the order of Aaron (Hebrews 3:1, 4:14, 7:20-21).
③Jesus is a prophet. No, he is more precious than a prophet. Because the prophets prepared the way (Acts 3:22-23; John 1:29, 4:25).
At Christmas, we want to serve Jesus like a king, exalt him like a prophet, and honor him like a priest.
Today, I am going to tell you about Jesus, the king among them.
A king is the greatest ruler. Matthew 2 The wise men from the East also came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born as a king?” This great man has come into this world. He came to the stable as a man and as a servant. The kingdom of heaven is his, and he made all things, but he humbled himself and came as a servant. And to die on the cross for us to pay for our sins, he was born in the family of Joseph, a poor and powerless man.
Today's text tells the story of the fact that the wise men came and worshiped the baby Jesus, who was born so delicately, and offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh are χρυσ ν κα λ βανον κα σμ ρναν in the original language.
①Gold (χρυσ ν) is a pronoun of treasure and is the basis of money even today.
Gold is money in this world, and glory in heaven. In Revelation 21:21, “the way of heaven was pure gold like a clear sea of glass” and in Revelation 4:4 there is a “crown of gold” among the crowns that the saints will wear in heaven.
② Frankincense (λ βανον) is a perfume extracted from a tree that grows wild in East Africa and Arabia. It is an expensive and ceremonial use in ancient times.
③ Myrrh (σμ ρναν), like frankincense, is a perfume extracted from a tree that grows wild in East Africa and Arabia.
Biblical scholars believe that the wise men gave these to the baby Jesus, but gold was used for the kingship of Jesus, frankincense was used for ceremonial purposes to the gods, so the divinity of Jesus, and myrrh was used as a preservative for the body. It symbolizes the suffering and death of Jesus.
But more importantly, the three gifts offered to the baby Jesus must have been a great financial strength to Joseph and Mary, who had to flee to Egypt with the baby Jesus to escape King Herod. Would you have lived with the gifts that the wise men gave to poor Joseph and Mary while they were fleeing to Egypt? There is no doubt that it was used to make money for the old and young by selling it and to take care of the baby Jesus.
On Christmas this year, like the wise men of the East, let's prepare the best gift for the baby Jesus and give a 'Christmas thanksgiving gift'. Let's give the baby Jesus a gift with the greatest devotion in our lifetime. At this time of year, one of the hot topics is the Salvation Army's charity pot. Again this year, I see people who donate large amounts of money without a name. Let us also give this joy to the Lord once. This year's Christmas offering will be used as a full scholarship, and the estimated amount is 40 million won. Besides that, it also requires a lot of money to help the poor neighbors. We plan to send 3 stoves to the military base as well.
Our Jesus is here now, and if you ask, we will gladly give you everything. But the Lord has gone to heaven, and through our hands on His behalf, He has placed by our side a neighbor who needs our help. In Matthew 10:42, “Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of the little ones will not lose his reward.” In Matthew 25:40, he says, “As you did it to the least of my brothers, you did it to me.”
Christmas is not a festival to say, 'Bless you,' but a season to pray and offer gifts.
Dear Shepherd Church members, this Christmas, let's give the Lord the best gift that will remain in our memories. Therefore, I pray that you will have a blessed life that accomplishes more of the Lord's works. Hallelujah!!
. - Amen -