Kingdom Blog

Christmas reminds us of the birth of salvation, the Christ child, and His witnesses of such a great event…including the three kings (wise men). In many ways they continue to prophecy in to the identity of Christ, and also ourselves….and so are still coming to bear gifts.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

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.

Matthew 2:1-12

The Lord God sent the three wise men (Magi) who are also three kings from a distant country (revealed in being able visit King Herod, and also in the Bible, e.g. Ps. 72:10-15; Is. 60:6,7) to brings signs from heaven.

Each gift delivered by the three kings is a sign from God telling them and us who this baby really is. God uses signs like we see street signs, that tell us where we are going, how to get there, and what is coming.

The three signs the kings were carrying are…

Gold:

Gold is very precious and expensive, and the type of gift given to royalty. At the time of Christ’s birth, at the sight of such a gift any good Israelite would recall the amazing gold of King Solomon, who also received gold from distant royalty, and was seen as a pointer to the King of kings.

A gift for an important King brought to Him by kings from other nations/countries, and showing us He is the King of kings.

Frankincense:

Frankincense was a special, expensive oil (and also in other forms) that the priest used back when Jesus was a baby to always burn near to where they believed God was seated, making a sweet smell. It represented praying to God from a close place. Making intercession for us at the right hand of God.

A gift that shows us that He is the one close to God who prays for us and all of God’s people – and God answers His prayers because He is His Son and loves Him. According to the Bible this make Him the great high priest, the head of all the ministers and also the church.

(See Ex. 30:1-10, 34-38; Romans 8:26-27, 34; Heb. 7:25; Lev. 2; Song of Songs 4; Jer. 6:20; Matt. 2:11: Rev. 18:13)

Myrrh:

The Bible tells us Myrrh is used in oils that used to anoint, which means to put oil on them, and also was a sign they would have the power of the Holy Spirit for miracles. It was also used to prepare Jesus body for burial after He died on the cross – to show that Jesus was going to die for our sins….but by the Holy Spirit also rose for the dead.

The one Anointed by God (Christ means the ‘Anointed One’) to have His power to many miracles, like healing, walking on water, and also to die for sins so we can be with God forever if we believe in Him. This also pointed to Jesus being the Prophet, as prophesied by Moses, noting that He walked in the authority of God, and also in the anointing and miracle working power of the Lord.

(See Ex. 30; Song of Songs 1:12-13; John 12:1-3; John 19:29)

FINALLY: All these signs show us Jesus is God because they are the sort of gifts the Jews offered to God.

And so in these signs, the three kings joined in the testimony of the hosts of heaven, the shepherds, Gabriel, and the prophets Anna and Simeon, to witness to the fact that this is the King of kings (the Messiah), Anointed one (the Christ and the Prophet), and the eternal High Priest. See Psalm 2:2 and Acts 4:25-27…and many other references.

The three kings still bear gifts today…for us.

Their gold was a royal offering to the King of kings, and reminds us that in Christ we are kings and queens in God, carrying in humility the authority of our Lord.

The frankincense (the incense of prayers) a special gift to Intercessor and Great High Priest, and so reminding us that in Christ we are His priests making intercession for His children.

The myrrh, the gift fit for the Prophet and Anointed One (‘the Christ’), reminding us that in Christ we too are empowered by the Holy Spirit to prophecy, heal and declare His word and the gospel of His Kingdom…knowing that this comes through dying to self.

So let us rise up afresh to receive these gifts from God, walking in to His destiny for all His children, those who love Him, receive Christ as their Lord, and are filled with the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 2:9
‘But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;’

Revelation 1:6
and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Exodus 19:6
And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Numbers 11:29
Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”

1 Corinthians 14:1
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

Daniel 7:22
until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.