GIFT OF YOU

Last week, I had the privilege of teaching a lesson to the youth at my church. The title of the lesson was, Happy Birthday Jesus, and focused on the magi’s visit to baby Jesus in Matthew 2. The kids enjoyed learning about the magi’s gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. After an in-depth discussion on the monetary value of frankincense and myrrh, we talked about what “valuable gifts” we can give Jesus during this Christmas season. Their answers ranged from cell phones to basketball balls to baby dolls. We ended the lesson by talking about the greatest gift we’ve ever received – the gift of Jesus Christ.

After spending the morning talking with kids about Matthew 2 and thinking about what “valuable gifts” I can give to Jesus, I decided to go back and read the passage again to see if there was anything else I could glean from the text. And there was.

Although the focus of Matthew 2 is usually on the TREASURES presented to Jesus by the magi, they also gave Him other valuable gifts – their TIME and TALENT.

In Matthew 2, we learn about the magi who traveled to Jerusalem looking for baby Jesus, so they could worship him. After learning that He wasn’t there, but was born in Bethlehem of Judea, they followed the star and continued their search to find Him. They weren’t discouraged when they didn’t find him in the first place they looked. They didn’t give up when He wasn’t where they thought He was going to be. They were willing to invest their TIME and search for him even if it meant traveling to another city.

Magi are often referred to as the wise men who followed the star to find baby Jesus and present treasures to Him, but the magi were scholars who knew the ancient writings of the Jews. They knew the Christmas star meant Jesus was born. It’s clear from scripture that the magi had a level of expertise about the meaning of the star that no one else in Jerusalem had. They used their TALENT to find Jesus and ultimately helped save Him from being killed.

And lastly, after using their TIME and TALENT to find Jesus, they gave Him their TREASURES. Matthew 2:11 says, “After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their TREASURES, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (NASB)

There is so much more to the story of the wise men who presented TREASURES (gifts) to Jesus. It’s a story about receiving the gift of Jesus Christ and in return, presenting him with the gift of YOU – YOUR TIME, YOUR TALENT, AND YOUR TREASURES.

What gifts are you presenting to Jesus this Christmas? 

 Karris 

Matthew 2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Visit of the Magi

2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, ^[a]magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ² “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the ^[b]Messiah was to be born. ⁵ They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written ^[c]by the prophet:

⁶ ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah;
For out of you shall come forth a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them ^[d]the exact time the star appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” ⁹ After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹ After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they ^[e]fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.