Matthew 2:9-12
“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”
The Magi, or wise men, follow the star to our Lord. By now, the family is living in a house and Jesus is close to two years old. These men bring gifts that point toward the reason this baby was born.
Many people have guessed at the symbolism behind each gift. I have my opinion, but regardless of the exact symbol, the overlying reason is obvious. He came to die.
These gifts point to a burial. But that’s not the end of the story. He didn’t come just to die like many other religious figures throughout history. He came to conquer. In dying, He paid the price for a sinful people to be reconciled with a Holy God. Three days later, He rose from the dead. In this act He conquered sin and death.
He didn’t come just to pay for our sins, no, He came so that we might have life forever with Him. What a beautiful act of love! As the wise men worshiped the baby, today we worship a risen King! Praise Him!
