Advertising has always been built on creating a need and then filling it with a product. We just have to get the latest thing and then our lives will be more enjoyable, comfortable or fulfilled.
The Christmas story includes a scene in which so-called ‘wise men’ visit the baby Jesus to worship him and bring him gifts. According to the story in chapter 2 of Matthew’s Gospel, the three men, most likely astronomers, saw a special star in the sky which they interpreted as a sign. Following the star, they were led to Jerusalem where they assumed a royal birth had occurred.
When they asked about this royal birth, they were directed to Bethlehem by King Herod who was jealous and wanted the wise men to report back to him. Unfortunately, his intentions were not exactly noble.
The wise men followed the star which stopped right over the place where Jesus was. Christmas plays tend to imply that this happened in the manger where Jesus was born. However, the best information we have indicates that it took place sometime later and in a home.
The gifts are interesting in that all three are either very expensive or highly desirable. While that is fitting for a king, the gifts were probably more for Mary and Joseph in order to help them raise their special child. Gold could have helped them pay their rent; Frankincense could have provided a sweet-smelling environment for their home and Myrrh was often used as an analgesic for gums — an ancient form of teething gel perhaps?
This is all speculation of course, but the question I have is this: What gift can you bring to Jesus this Christmas?
There is nothing Jesus needs nor wants that we can provide for Him. He is the creator of all that has been made.
So what can you give a person who literally has everything? That’s a tough Christmas assignment, isn’t it?
When I was a young boy, I often felt that I didn’t have the means by which to buy good gifts for my friends or family. How could I show them my appreciation and love?
In primary school one year, a teacher cast me as The Little Drummer Boy in the Christmas play and it had a profound effect on me. The story isn’t in the Bible, but the principle is this: Give to Jesus what he has blessed you with. All the skills, abilities, the material possessions we have, even the time we have on earth are gifts from God. What should we do with them?
The most important gift God gave us is eternal life. He rescued us from the tyranny of sin and death when Jesus died on the cross and rose again. Therefore, our very lives have been given back to us and the best thing we can do in response is to dedicate them to His service in lifelong worship.
Worship means to give something or someone their ‘worth’. What is Jesus worth to you?
He doesn’t need your money, perfumes or ointments; he wants a living relationship with you. One where you reflect who He has created you to be. Can you play music like the little drummer boy? Do you fix things, teach people, help others? Whatever you do, do it in honour of the creator who graciously gives to us more abundantly than we can imagine.
The wise men went to worship Jesus in response to that first Christmas. What are you doing on December 26? Do you have time to worship The King?
Rev Phil Zamagias,
Christ Church Anglican, Echuca
3°C