Saturday, December 16, 2006

The Birth of Jesus

The Birth of Jesus was a humble moment as the King of Kings became a human so he might identify with our suffering, and temptations, as well as to provide Salvation. He was born into a Family of little means. We know that Mary and Joseph offered the least of the sacrifices required by the law on the eight day of Jesus’ birth; two turtledoves.

When we think of birth, we think of hospitals, birthing suites, clean rooms and Demurral. The image of Jesus’ birth is very different to us today Jesus was born in a stable, and wrapped in strips of rags, to sleep his first night in the very object that animals would have eaten from that day; a manger. We must remember this King did not go unnoticed. Angels and Kings alike acknowledged his birth. “Yes the messiah the Lord has been born today in Bethlehem.”

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

if they had brought sugar, soap, and candles they would have acted like wise men”

Who were the Magi ?
The word Magi is a Latinization of the plural of the greek word magos (μαγοι).
Referring to the priestly caste of a distorted form of Zoroastrianism.
They gained an international reputation for astrology, which at that point was a highly regarded science, only later giving rise to aspects of mathematics and astronomy.
Do we Know the Magi

Matthew 2. 1 Some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem.
Were they kings Or Astronomers?
Isaiah 60 Psalms 72 - gives the ideas of Kings or What about the Song "We Three Kings"

The names of the Magi derive from an early sixth Century Greek manuscript in Alexandria, translated into the Latin Excerpta Latina Barbari
The GIFTS
Gold
Gold was the gift given by Melchior, a king of Arabia, said to have been the oldest of the Three Kings
Gold Is a highly sought-after precious metal that for many centuries has been used as money
Gold has a symbol of kingship on earth

Frankincense
Frankincense was the Gift given by Balthasar, a king from Saba (Southern Yemen)

Frankincense is resin from the dried sap of the Boswellia tree – a tree that has grown on the craggy slopes of the Arabian Sea for thousands of years. In ancient times, Frankincense and Gold were equally valuable. Frankincense is harvested by making slits in the bark of the tree and letting the resin slowly bleed out and harden into white tears of Frankincense.

The primary use of Frankincense is the same today as it was in ancient times: it is very strong incense with a sweet aroma that is used today in religious services.

Myrrh
Myrrh was the gift given by Caspar, a king from Tarsus (Southern Turkey)

Myrrh is resin from the Cammiphora tree and is harvested by cutting slits in the bark of the tree from which Myrrh resin hardens into dark red crystals. In ancient times, Myrrh was among the most valuable substances known and, at the time of the birth of Christ, it was worth seven times its weight in gold. It can be used as incense or it can be ground into a powder and mixed with oils to make a balm or processed into oil. (In ancient times, myrrh was used in the mummification of the Pharohs in Ancient Egypt and to anoint kings.)

The Gifts
They are all ordinary gifts for a king - myrrh being commonly used as an anointing oil, frankincense as a perfume, and gold as a valuable.
That they are prophetic - gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense as a symbol of divine authority, and myrrh as a symbol of death

So why Give them to Jesus - Was he a King, would he need this honor.

(Next Post the Incarnation of Christ)