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GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 2:1–12 [The Magi visit the Child]
1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 7Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. |
Gold and frankincense and myrrh. These seem like strange gifts to bring to a baby. The common interpretation of the meaning of these gifts is: gold because Jesus is a King and rulers always need money, frankincense because Jesus is our High Priest who prays for us, and myrrh because it is a medicine that relieves pain for a suffering savior.
But still, those seem like very strange gifts for a child, even if it is Jesus Christ.
A few years ago (in 2013) we had a children’s Christmas pageant, and because there were not enough boys to play the Wisemen, we had three girls. Part of the dialog went like this:
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Wisewoman 3: And Three Wisewomen would be wiser than those so-called “wisemen” in the Christmas story. Wisewoman 1: First, we would arrive on time. Wisewoman 2: We would have cleaned the stable and help deliver the Baby. Wisewoman 3: And we would have brought practical gifts. Wisewoman 1: Like cash. Wisewoman 2: Like diapers. Wisewoman 3: Like baby powder. |
But I was still wondering why the Wisemen chose to bring those particular gifts. This is my own personal conjecture.
Gifts reflect something about the giver. For example, if someone gives you a book about birds, then that person probably likes birds. If someone brings you homemade cookies, then you know that person likes to cook.
Perhaps, the gifts of the Wisemen, although they may reflect who and what the Child is, they may also reflect who and what the Wisemen are. What I mean is, the gifts reflect what the Wisemen think are precious and which are unique to them. The Wisemen are probably from the area of Babylon in the East. In the Book of Daniel (5:7-8), the king’s wise men are called “enchanters, astrologers and diviners.” They were probably rich and so would choose the gift of gold to bring. They were religious priests and so would bring what was important in their work, namely incense which is used in prayer. They may have been healers, too, so medicine like myrrh is something they would think would be very valuable.
A popular Christmas song is the “Little Drummer Boy.” He wants to bring something to the newborn King. He has nothing but he says: “I am a poor boy too, I have no gift to bring that’s fit to give a King. Shall I play for you on my drum? I played my best for Him. Then He smiled at me and my drum. pa rum pum pum pum,”
In 1958 this song became a big hit, probably because it taught a simple truth. Even if we do not have Gold and frankincense and myrrh to bring to the King, we all have something to bring. We bring our selves, our talents, and the gifts that God has already given us. We cannot go to the manger in Bethlehem, but we find Christ in all the world around us. When we as Christians do the work of God, that is the same as giving a precious gift to the Christchild. We do that in our daily occupations and recreations. S
o what can you bring as a gift to the Christchild? What in your life is precious that you can give to God?
Christ gave himself to us. That was his work on the cross. He did not give gold or silver, but his precious life blood. One Bible word for “gift” is “grace.” This grace is so great that it gives salvation unto stingy, selfish, sinful people like us. One Bible word for “receiving” the gift from God is “faith.” This faith is the work of the Holy Spirit, and so stingy, selfish, sinful people like us become gracious, generous, justified people.
All we have might be a drum, but then let’s play it for the Lord.
Amen.
Little Drummer Boy: Lyrics
Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.
Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?
Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.
The words and music to the Christmas song Little Drummer Boy was composed by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone in 1958.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church
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