Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh: A Deeper Meaning

 

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“There will be times you will be in the field without a camera. And, you will see the most glorious sunset or the most beautiful scene that you have ever witnessed. Don't be bitter because you can't record it. Sit down, drink it in, and enjoy it for what it is!” - DeGriff


    Season's Greetings! Please enjoy this Christmas post from December 25, 2021...

    Many of us are familiar with the story in Matthew 2:11 of the Bible that tells us of the gifts brought to the infant Jesus by the three wise men. But did you know these expensive gifts may have had greater meaning than just adulatory tributes in the life of Christ?

    Gold is the most straightforward of presents as the greatest precious metal and truly a gift worthy for a king, as Jesus is the King of all Christians. Frankincense, which comes from Boswellia sacra tree resin, was a wonderfully fragrant and expensive gift that was highly valued in the Middle East at the time of Jesus's birth and was often used in incense and perfume. In the Bible, frankincense is frequently used during worship, which is appropriate for the worship of the anointed One. Myrrh, an aromatic extraction from the gum of the Commiphora myrrh plant, was also quite fragrant but used more as an anesthetic, a deodorant, and for burial embalming. Myrrh is most associated with death in the New Testament and was a clearly prophetic gift as Jesus would sacrifice his life as atonement for the sins of the world.

    These three gifts, in many ways, symbolized all that was to happen in Jesus's life. How interesting to know that these gifts meant so much more than they appeared to, much like an infant wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger was much more than a mere baby. Merry Christmas to you, my friends, as we celebrate together the birth of the Savior, the good news announced to the shepherds by the angel of the Lord.

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Location: Cape Henlopen State Park, 15099 Cape Henlopen Dr, Lewes, DE 19958, USA

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