“Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.” John 1:16 (NIV)
It’s so easy to get caught up in Christmas, especially if you’re love language is gift giving. Boy, do I tend to get myself in trouble. I learned, however, several years ago, a way to reign myself in. For me, it seems absurd that I have to contain how I express my love for others, but then I remind myself that I really enjoy having a nice, comfortable house, hot water for showers, and a well-stocked fridge and pantry… Not to mention reliable vehicles, suitable clothing for all types of weather, and comforts that are not in the “necessity” category. But to tamp down my expressions of love can be excruciating!
The trick that I put into place – hoping to keep myself under control – is the Three Gift Rule: Something to read, something to wear, and something fun. This is the time of year that I splurge on books (I usually buy from used bookstores, but not at Christmas), I get the kiddos a new outfit to wear (to accompany the pack of socks and underwear), and I try to find something fun that will speak to each individual kiddo’s interest (not always easy). It’s been pretty easy to stick with this guide. For the something to read, when the kiddos were barely starting to read, they would each receive a different “I Spy” book. One year, for our oldest daughter, we gave her a pair of boots she’d had her eye on. That was her “something to wear.” Last year, for the “something fun,” one of our daughters unwrapped a pair of roller skates.
One year I tried to cheat and I told myself that the kiddos would only get three things to unwrap – something to read changed to several books, a journal, and a coloring book (they make them for all ages now!), something to wear turned into a play outfit, a dress outfit, and pajamas (along with the socks and underwear), and something fun became not just the doll but a bunch of accessories, too (or a hot wheel track with half a dozen cars). The rule was that it could only be three presents to unwrap. That was a tough Christmas. Not tough financially, but there was just way too much stuff. So, I went back to the Three Gift Rule… it worked for Jesus, right?
The Bible tells us that Jesus received three gifts – gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Three Gift Rule. Of course, we always love it when we’re given money as a gift, but what about the other two? Both can be used medicinally, and considering how fallible the human body can be, well, that’s like money in your pocket! Especially for first-time parents, Mary and Joseph. Can you imagine being a first-time mom and having to figure it out with your child being the Son of God? Talk about pressure!
We always see it portrayed as three wise men seeking out the new King. We see it in almost every nativity scene, in almost every Christmas play at church, and even in popular Christmas songs… but the scriptures only say that there were three gifts, not three givers. In those days, the wise men (not sure how many, just that it was more than one) were considered “king-makers” because they were the individuals who had power to give rule and authority (remember the story of Daniel? Check out Daniel 2:48). They put thought and planning into what they presented to Jesus. The gifts weren’t something they decided to regift, picked up on a whim at the local market, or something Mary registered for. What was the significance of those specific three gifts?
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh… Well, unlike my initial thoughts, there’s a much more spiritual answer to what the significance was. We may have the gold standard when it comes to our modern currency, but in Biblical times, gold was symbolic of God. It was used to honor kings, so, naturally, it was presented to the King of kings.
Frankincense points us to the priests of the temple. Priests would be the go-between for the people to God. To use another word, they would intercede They would offer prayers, sacrifices, and offerings in the temple on behalf of the wicked sinners. If you guessed that frankincense was used in the temple by the priests, you’d be right. But what’s really cool is that it was traditionally used in the meat offering and is symbolic of prayer. This gift of frankincense points to Jesus being the High Priest. Let’s put it together: Jesus is our High Priest, our go-between, because of His own meat offering – His sacrifice on the cross.
Myrrh is the one that I find both exciting and heartbreaking. Myrrh was typically used to anoint prophets, and this is spot on since Jesus came to do the will of the Father. He did the will of the Father, the work of the Father, and spoke the words of the Father. Boom! Prophet. He also came as a fulfillment of a prophecy. Several prophecies, in fact. Moses prophesied that Jesus would come (Deuteronomy 18), and there are more than 45 other bits of scripture that prophesy different details and then we can read about those being fulfilled. Isaiah 53 reminds me of the other traditional use of myrrh – it was also used in anointing the dead.
As a mother, especially in my post-partum state with a 4-month-old, I can’t help but wonder what went through Mary’s mind when these gifts were presented to her baby. What did she consider when viewing the gold? Did she consider the cost of housing, food, clothing, livestock, or tools for Joseph’s carpentry? Maybe she was so in awe that her thoughts sputtered to a stop at such an extravagant gift from this group of strangers. And then came the frankincense and myrrh.
Surely, Mary knew the prophesy Isaiah gave in regard to her son – the Son – being pierced, crushed, and bruised. But did she connect it all? Did she accept the gift of frankincense and myrrh on behalf of Jesus and know that she would witness her son’s horrific death on the cross? Three gifts that we don’t typically take much notice of that may well have spoken volumes to Mary (and Joseph, too!). They proclaimed Jesus as King, as High Priest, and as both Prophet and the fulfillment of the prophecies.
I’ve been thinking about this post for a while now; been toying with how to write about the Three Gifts. They’re listed out here: Jesus is our King, our High Priest, and our Fulfillment. But even looking at it from another angle, I can’t help but see so much more than three gifts in His birth, life, and death: pierced and crushed for our sins, punished to bring us peace and healing, and cut off so we could be grafted in as heirs… but that was just in His death. We’re not even touching on what He gave us in His life.
Wait a minute – this isn’t the Christmas message heard in so many churches around the world! No one wants to look beyond the manger. No one looks forward to January when the credit card bills and bank statements start showing up in the mailbox. Think about it. You don’t really want to put the two together and see the baby boy, an innocent, newborn baby, and acknowledge that He grew up to be oppressed and suffered a horrible death… for you.
“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:4-12 (NIV)
We do the Three Gift Rule in our home at Christmas as an expression of love, but so as not to break the bank and spoil our kiddos. The three gifts brought by the wise men, however many there might have been, were extravagant in their simplicity and symbolism. But the gift of Jesus…
That is Christmas. Jesus’ birth is a celebration in which He is the One being celebrated, but He is the Gift. He may have received the Three Gifts the wise men brought, but the gifts His birth, sacrifice, and resurrection purchased for us outnumber the numbers.