Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus

We are continuing our Advent teaching series called “The gifts”. Throughout this series we will study the story of the Magi and the gifts that they presented to Jesus. Frankincense, Myrrh, and Gold.

On their own these gifts were very valuable, but more than their value, they tell us a story about who Jesus is. That story is what we aim to unpack over the next few weeks.

Why did these men bring a small child yellow rocks, perfume, and spices What did they mean? What can we learn from the story they tell.

These are The Gifts.

After Jesus is born, strange men from the East enter the story. The bible calls them Magi and we do not know much about them.

They were likely key figures in the eastern culture who prided themselves in being in the know about worldly wisdom and philosophy. They seem to have knowledge of the Jewish Messiah, so many scholars believe they came from Babylon where there were still populations of Jewish people living.

They have seen a star in the sky and they have concluded it must mean the King of the Jews has been born.

They begin to make what could have been a 1000-mile, camel back journey to Jerusalem to worship him. Likely this was a whole entourage- they brought 3 gifts, but it was almost certainly more than 3 of them traveling that distance.

They bowed down, and worshipped Jesus. And when the text says they bowed down and worshiped. They didn’t just turn on K-love radio and sing along. These men of wealth, prestige, and power, got down on their knees, placed their forehead to the ground, in complete humility and reverence before Jesus.

After the wise men worship Jesus, the bible says they opened up their treasures and presented gifts to Jesus. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Today we are going to unpack the story, or the significance of the gift of Frankincense.

Frankincense is a sap or resin that comes from trees in the Boswellia family. Found often in the regions of Africa and Arabia.

To harvest Frankincense, these Boswellia trees are scratched or punctured so that they will emit sap. The sap from these wounds is allowed to dry and harden where it will be turned into powder or processed into an oil.

Dried frankincense is used in worship services today around the world.

Frankincense also boasts health benefits. Thought to reduce inflammation, help with arthritis, and even respiratory symptoms. Already, this helps us understand a little bit more why this gift might have been chosen for Jesus.

But the story gets even clearer when we consider frankincense in biblical times.
Frankincense shows up all the way back in the Old Testament book of Exodus 30:34-35 "Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred."

The Lord actually instructed Moses, the leader of Israel at the time, to make this special blend to be used in the temple, in worship to the Lord. The aroma and the smoke were to be reminders to the people of their prayers ascending to heaven.

To Mary and Joseph, I would imagine, this was a lavish expression of generosity from the wise men. Frankincense was VERY expensive back then.

But when this gift is presented to Jesus, it comes alive with symbolism and meaning. This incense is now laid before the one that the bible calls our great high priest.

If you look at the Latin word for priest, it is literally translated “Bridge builder” That’s who Jesus is. The one who has come to build a bridge between a holy and righteous God, and human beings, lost and broken in sin.

Jesus came to save us from our sin, to reunite us in relationship to God the Father. He is literally our bridge, our pathway to restoration and relationship with God.

The bible uses the language; Jesus is our great High priest.

What this is telling us is that Jesus, this baby born at Christmas, crucified on the cross and ascended to the right hand of the father in glory, knows and understands what you are going through right now.

He’s been there and he made it through without sinning- and now, he’s here to help you.

Because of who Jesus is, because of what he has done for us in dying on the cross for our sins, being resurrected to life again by the Father.

In Jesus, we can come into relationship with God once again. Our sin, our failures, our guilt, no longer has to be a barrier.

In Christ Jesus, yes, our great high priest, we can experience the presence and life of God within us. We can come to him with our joys and sorrows, needs and pains, and we know that we will receive loving help from our heavenly father.
No religious ceremony, no burnt frankincense required, only by the blood of Christ.

Merry Christmas! This is what the gift of frankincense reminds us of today.