What’s the weirdest Christmas present you’ve ever received. Maybe you got a weird sweater that you would choose freezing over wearing. Maybe you got a perfume/cologne that made people say, “why does it smells like my grandpa in here?” when you wore it that one time. Whatever your weird present may have been (if you’re mature) you’re thankful for the sentiment with which it was given. Someone thought enough about you that they took a stab at picking something you would like.
When Jesus was born, he was visited by the wise men. They came from far away and followed a star to find Jesus. They brought with them three gifts. Gold, whose usefulness is obvious. No new parent would turn down the gift of gold because kids are expensive. Frankincense also had value but was also a symbol of purity and cleanliness since one of its uses was as a disinfectant—beautiful, valuable, and symbolic. And finally, myrrh.
Myrrh had some value and a few other uses, but it had its strongest ties to its use in burial customs. I don’t think any parent of a young child would be particularly happy with the uncle who shows up with a gift that says, “glad you were born, here’s something you’ll need because you’re going to die.” Happy birthday, here’s your headstone.
It was nothing so simplistic, however it was a good reminder for us of why Jesus entered the world in the first place. He knew the plan, he knew where he would end up, and he knew why he would do it. The cross could not happen without the crib. Jesus took on full humanity to live among people.
At Christmas we celebrate the actions described in John 1:14,16-18, “14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth… 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.”
Jesus came to earth and received some gifts that would be considered pretty weird to give a baby. However, we can look back now and see that they were perfectly suited for the gift he would give to all of us.