THAT TWELFTH DAY

I always love the 12th Day of Christmas, the day the Magi gave their gifts to our Christ child. Matthew 2:10, tells us of their great joy, after following the star in the east and seeing it placed over the manger, “They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” What precious gifts!

There was the valuable gold, cited back in Genesis 13:2, “Abram was very wealthy in livestock, silver and gold.” Moses was instructed by the Lord to tell the Israelites to collect gold for him In Exodus 25:3, “These are the gift offerings that you should receive from them, gold, silver and copper.” As the Bible books progress, gold is there for the rulers, objects and for gift offerings in the temple, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 29:3-4, “I have dedicated my own private treasure of gold and silver to my God’s temple, in addition to all that I’ve provided for the holy temple: three thousand kikkars of gold from the gold of Ohir,” as well as the gold altar itself, “He took the gold altar..” (1 Macc 21:2). Such symbolism, to have gold brought to newborn King!

Frankincense, a sweet spice, considered a gum resin (tree sap) and having a captivating fragrance, was mentioned as far back as Exodus 30:34-36, when the Lord told Moses to mix it among other spices, making an incense formula, ‘perfectly holy,’ only to the Lord. In Leviticus 2:16, we read how the priest will completely burn the token portion-some of the crushed grain and oil along with all of the frankincense-as a food gift for the LORD,” reading it is a food gift again in Leviticus 24:7, “Put pure frankincense on each stack, as a token portion for the bread; it is a food portion for the LORD.” Because of it also being burned and having its pleasant aroma, the smoke rose to the heavens while in prayer. Envision the sight and aroma!

Myrrh, also considered a resin and costly spice ,though bitter in taste, was applied as a perfume, mentioned in Song of Songs 3:6, “She is perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, selected from all the spice merchants powders.” Myrrh also had the symbolism of mortality, an attempt to give to Jesus, “They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he didn’t take it,” (Mark 15:23), as it would help numb his pain. It was later used for the embalming of Christ, a commonly used for funeral purposes during this time. “Nicodemus, the one who at first had come to Jesus at night, was there too. He brought a mixture of myrrh and aloe, nearly seventy pounds in all,” (John 19:30)

Wealth, sweetness, a portion of food, and a symbol of mortality, God’s Spirit becoming flesh. God knew His people were ready to receive and welcome His Son into His world!

~Marie T. Morrison~