It seems the world is having more trouble than ever accepting the babe born in a manager over 2000 years ago. It seems the tiny one whose parents could not even get a room in an inn or provide a clean place for his birth scares the hell (yes I said “hell” pun intended) out of most. Maybe it’s because like the Magi they recognize this child for all that He is.
They gave Him gold in recognition of his kingship, not just earthly royalty but divine. This little one possesses great power. He is ruler of the universe, a role hidden in a dingy manger and not fully realized until His final return, but ultimate ruler nonetheless.
They gave Him frankincense because they knew Him as priest, not just any priest but the Great High Priest who would advocate for lowly man with the Most High God. He would replace all the rituals and ceremony of religion with the reality of relationship.
They gave Him myrrh because they foresaw Him as murdered sacrifice for sin. They recognized this child in His most mysterious yet most marvelous role of all, the greatest gift ever given by a God whose capacity for love is beyond our meager understanding.
So let us not be too self-righteous when we hear “Happy Holidays” or hear Christmas described as an over-commercialization of a ancient pagan feast. Unless we are prepared to receive Him as Emmanuel, and king and priest and bloody sacrifice for sin, we are no better than those who reject Him as babe in swaddling clothes.
Just how much Jesus are you prepared to accept?
Take Him all and be blessed.
Nick
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