As virtually any young child in a Sunday school Bible class could tell you, when the Magi, the Wise Men from the East, followed the star to Bethlehem in order to worship the new King, they brought with them royal gifts of frankincense, myrrh and gold to present to the Savior, the King of the Jews. Although these are kingly bequests, indeed, I believe there is a deeper meaning behind the presentation of these gifts to our Lord and Savior. In 1 Corinthians 15, the Apostle Paul informs us that the gospel message in a nutshell is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and in these three gifts the gospel message of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus was portended and proclaimed.
Frankincense: Frankincense represents the death of Jesus. In Biblical times, incense was burned as it was believed that it carried prayers to Heaven, the sweet aroma that was pleasing to God (Leviticus 2:2). Frankincense was burned on the cakes during the meal or grain offering, once again as a sweet-smelling savor before God. Paul tells us that when Jesus died for us it was “an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Ephesians 5:2 [NAS]), signifying the connection between the death of Jesus and frankincense. It was sometimes used as a substitute for sacrificial offerings burnt on an altar, which reminds us of Jesus being the vicarious sacrifice for our sins. When frankincense crystals are burned they glow with a bright, white flame, signifying the purity and light of Jesus Christ.
Myrrh: Myrrh represents the burial of Jesus. In a Messianic psalm, God’s word tells us, 6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. 7 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of joy above Your fellows. 8 All Your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia (Psalm 45:6-8 [NAS]). We see from the Gospel of John that the body of Jesus was anointed with myrrh for His burial, fulfilling this aspect of the aforementioned prophecy: 39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. (John 19:39-30 [NAS])
Finally, we have Gold: Gold represents the resurrection of Jesus as He stands risen and alive walking among the churches founded upon His shed blood. 12 Then I turned to see the Voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands One like a Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around His chest. (Revelation 1:12-13 [ESV]) Just as gold neither rusts nor does it show any signs of aging, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 [NAS]). Hence, gold represents His glorious resurrection, a resurrection in which we will share and partake on some great and resplendent day ourselves!
Frankincense: Frankincense represents the death of Jesus. In Biblical times, incense was burned as it was believed that it carried prayers to Heaven, the sweet aroma that was pleasing to God (Leviticus 2:2). Frankincense was burned on the cakes during the meal or grain offering, once again as a sweet-smelling savor before God. Paul tells us that when Jesus died for us it was “an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Ephesians 5:2 [NAS]), signifying the connection between the death of Jesus and frankincense. It was sometimes used as a substitute for sacrificial offerings burnt on an altar, which reminds us of Jesus being the vicarious sacrifice for our sins. When frankincense crystals are burned they glow with a bright, white flame, signifying the purity and light of Jesus Christ.
Myrrh: Myrrh represents the burial of Jesus. In a Messianic psalm, God’s word tells us, 6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. 7 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of joy above Your fellows. 8 All Your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia (Psalm 45:6-8 [NAS]). We see from the Gospel of John that the body of Jesus was anointed with myrrh for His burial, fulfilling this aspect of the aforementioned prophecy: 39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. (John 19:39-30 [NAS])
Finally, we have Gold: Gold represents the resurrection of Jesus as He stands risen and alive walking among the churches founded upon His shed blood. 12 Then I turned to see the Voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands One like a Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around His chest. (Revelation 1:12-13 [ESV]) Just as gold neither rusts nor does it show any signs of aging, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 [NAS]). Hence, gold represents His glorious resurrection, a resurrection in which we will share and partake on some great and resplendent day ourselves!
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