Message by Janice Good : January 6, 2008
“The Finest Rocks and Tree Sap”
Text – Matthew 2:1-12
Janice Good, Preacher
I’m pretty sure that most all of us have known, sometime in our lives, young couples who have had a baby. And if you knew the couple well you knew that no matter how expected the baby was – there was always something that was needed – some item that was very important to have to care for this new life. In fact, that seems to be the idea behind baby showers – where family and friends get together and show their love and concern by bringing gifts for the soon-to-be-born or recently-born baby. If you’ve ever been invited to such an event you may recall how you decided what gift to bring for the child. Perhaps you bought something that would be used by the baby – diapers, clothing, furniture, or maybe a group of people all went together and bought a stroller, or baby crib, or some other more expensive item that was needed. Then you all gathered together with the mom and had some food, played some silly games and then watched as she opened the gifts. All the oohing and aahing at the cute little clothes, the amazement at the latest gadget just for baby.
But even in all the fun and laughter you just knew how useful all these items were and how much it helped the young couple by giving them these gifts. So, how do you think the mother, or you for that matter, would react if as the gifts were opened you noticed that one package was full of rocks, another full of what looked like white ash, and another full of a dark-colored substance that had a pungent smell and looked like burnt ashes? Well, that’s exactly what was presented to Mary for her new baby, the Christ child. Probably over the years you’ve never thought of it like that, but down-and-dirty, that’s exactly what was given. Of course, the rocks were shiny and golden; the white stuff was frankincense, a rare and expensive material used as incense. And, the burnt ashes were myrrh, another expensive material used for medicinal purposes, especially in the embalming process at burial. These were the “practical” gifts given by the Magi to the one they came to worship as the King of the Jews. But really? What practical purposes did these gifts serve, or were they just symbolic?
Well, before we talk about those unique gifts, we need to know who exactly were those guys that brought this stuff anyway? Each Christmas we sing a favorite carol “We Three Kings of Orient Are.” Well that carol makes at least three mistakes or at least unsubstantiated suppositions in the very title. Matthew’s gospel that we read today makes no mention of how many people (men or women) came from the East, not necessarily the Orient. He calls them magoi, astrologers or sorcerers, not kings. I’m sure you’ve all heard the one that tells us if it had been three wise women, they would have asked directions, arrived on time with casserole in hand, and helped Mary to deliver the baby. Well, that too is pure speculation!
The only thing we know for certain about these visitors is from Matthew’s gospel, the only place this story is recorded in scripture. Matthew describes them as magi, probably men who studied astrology and magical things, and that they followed a star to find the child. There is no number given as to how many visitors came. Some have said as little as two, others as many as twelve. The magi come from the east, but we do not know specifically which country that would be, it is only speculation that has given us a guess as to where they came from. As to whether the magi were royalty, we can only speculate on that as well. If they were of royal heritage though, it is highly unlikely also that they would have ridden in on their finely attired camels, with a caravan of servants as well. Most likely they were dirty, tired and somewhat scraggly looking after months of travel in desert or near desert conditions. Any gifts that they brought would have been safely hidden away among their belongings to discourage thieves that they would have encountered along that journey.
The most reliable evidence we have concerning magi points to them being members of an old and powerful priestly caste among the Babylonians and Persians. Well educated for their day, these priest-sages were specialists in medicine, religion, astronomy, astrology, divination and magic. There were both good and bad magi, depending on whether they did their research in the sciences or whether they practiced divination, consulting spirits, and magic. The Persian magi were credited with higher religious activities, while those from Babylon were sometimes considered impostors. As early as second century catacomb wall art dresses the magi in Persian attire. Legend also says that the invading Persians spared the Church of the Nativity in 614 AD because they saw a mosaic over the doorway depicting of the magi in Persian headdress. Somewhere around the 6th century legend even added names to the supposed three magi: Gaspar, Melchoir, and Balthasar coming from Persia, Asia and Africa. There is even legend that Thomas, the apostle, went to India and baptized the Magi into the Christian faith, ordaining them as priests.
Whoever or whatever the magi were, it is most certainly true that they were gentiles indicating the universal pull of the future Christian faith. The ancient Hebrews expected a star as the sign of the birth of the Messiah, and even the eastern sages, familiar with the night sky were acquainted with this expectation. That star which led the magi from their eastern home to the Jerusalem and then on to Bethlehem is one of the most lasting and magnificent aspects of this Christmas story.
Mentioned only in Matthew’s gospel, that star has never really lost its appeal, it has never disappeared. Even today, in silver or gold, plastic or cardboard in still glows atop Christmas trees, the side of buildings, and even atop college towers. Whatever it is made of, it still shines as the most popular design even on Christmas cards. Even though the Star of Bethlehem has perplexed scholars for thousands of years we may never know of its true nature. Was it a spectacular phenomenon in the night sky, or just a myth – a device to add a nice touch to the Christmas story? Some even argue that this was a very special star, placed in the sky specifically to guide the Magi and is therefore beyond explanation. Many still look for the astronomical explanation with a variety of theories offered. Whatever its nature, or however it was placed strategically in the sky, really doesn’t matter to those of who believe.
Now we know how the magi were led to the child, so let’s look at those unusual gifts carried across miles of desert to honor the new king. First we are told that the Magi presented gold. The Bible doesn’t tell us whether it was gold coins, or just gold nuggets. Our modern conjecture leads us to believe that it was likely gold coins, ready cash to help with the expenses of a newborn baby! This gold would have been of immense value to a poor young couple, scandalized in their hometown, seeking a place to make their home away from home, probably finding it difficult to acquire employment. Not only that but shortly this young family would be forced to evacuate whatever shelter they may have found in Bethlehem! They would be forced to flee to Egypt to save the life of this newborn child. Interpreted symbolically, gold was a gift given to royalty, which signified Jesus’ kingship.
Frankincense is literally tree sap, obtained by cutting a long deep incision into the bark of the Boswellia tree and then peeling away part of the bark. As the sap seeps out and is exposed to air, it hardens. Literally, the tears of this tree are harvested, scraped off into collection baskets. Most of these trees are found in southern Arabia, or Somalia. Used primarily for incense during worship in the Temple in Jerusalem, it was not only Jews who used frankincense. The Romans used frankincense during state affairs, and in domestic life. In ancient Rome frankincense was an antidote to hemlock poisoning. Charred frankincense made the kohl, k-o-h-l, the black powder used by Egyptians to paint their eyelids.
The more immediate practical purpose of this gift of frankincense was spiritual. The aroma of frankincense was believed to represent life for Judaic and Christian faiths. Mixed with oil it was used to anoint newborn infants and other people who were progressing into a new phase of their spiritual life. Symbolically, frankincense denoted Jesus’ future priesthood.
Myrrh also has a long history of use. This too is tree sap collected from the Commiphora myrrha tree. Myrrh’s smell is sharp, pleasant, and somewhat bitter, like burning resin. Burning myrrh produces a heavy, bitter acrid smoke that may have a slight vanilla sweetness. When burnt, myrrh expands and blossoms, rather than melting or liquefying. In ancient times myrrh was highly prized for perfumes and incenses, worth more than its weight in gold. In ancient Rome myrrh was priced five times more than frankincense, even though frankincense was more popular. Still used today as a healing agent, myrrh soothes the body and speeds the healing process.
The more practical purpose of this gift from the Magi would be for Mary to use in postpartum healing. Later we hear that as Jesus hung on the cross he was offered a drink, mixed with myrrh, which was supposed to deaden the pain. (Mk 15:23) Myrrh was also used as an embalming spice at burial, helping to subdue the smell of the decaying body. Myrrh thus symbolized Christ’s future suffering.
Now you know some of the practical reasoning for the magi’s gifts. But it was not so much the intrinsic value of the gifts; it was the price that was paid to present these gifts to Him. It would be apparent from the text that since they found Mary and the baby in a house, it was several months journey that they traveled. The magi gave up whatever occupations they had in their homelands and traveled a long distance to find where this star led them. They gave more than just a token salute to this baby king. Instead they gave their lives to follow the light of the world, the rising star, the King of the Jews, the Savior of the Word. By a fortuitous dream these men knew to neither return to the ruthless ruler Herod, nor tell him what they had found in the light of the star. But instead they charted another way to return home, that long journey back to their homeland. The magi had seen the light, literally, and did not fall prey to Herod’s control. Do you still look up and see that bright light that leads you on, that same light that lead the Hebrews out of Egypt, that same light that lead the magi to the Christ Child, and the very same light that leads you to the Cross and beyond? You see the star has not gone away, it has never lost its brilliance, but shines on today in the hearts of men and woman around the world. It may be seen as a tacky plastic star, or a highly placed, glowing beacon of light, or a planet or comet that catches your attention. But I would guess that you couldn’t see a star today anywhere without thinking of that Bethlehem star! So continue to look up and see the light, giving your time, your gifts, your very life to finding what radiates from the light… Christ himself.
Each year at this time we Americans spend in excess of $40 billion on Christmas gifts. But what practical gifts does all that money purchase? As we celebrate this day, this Epiphany, think about what gifts you bring to the Christ child? Are your gifts more practical than pretty? Or do you think that you have nothing of value to give to Him. This is a little out of the ordinary, but just to be sure you’re not napping, I’m asking for hands-on-participation at this point in my sermon. What I would like you to do is take a piece of paper and write down three gifts you have that you can give or have given to God. Don’t just think of the genetic gifts or talents, but think of all those gifts that He has given you. What is your unique ability that you have dedicated back to God? Perhaps you have a gift of compassion, which you share in your work as a deacon. Maybe one of your gift is a love of children you give back by teaching a Sunday School class. I know that many of you may have more than three gifts, some even more than thirty. All I want you to write down three, the same number of gifts that the magi brought to the Christ child.
Now that you have written down your three gifts, I want you to think more broadly, less individually, and write down three gifts that Tower Church has which it gives to God, three things that this congregation as a group gives back to God. This one is a bit harder, but I’m sure you can come up with something. Just write them down on the bottom of your paper. Then your homework for later today, or sometime this week, is to ask someone you know to share with you three gifts that they see in you that perhaps you don’t see yourself. Then say a prayer thanking God for these unseen gifts.
Later as you present your tithes and offerings please present your lists as well. Just drop them in the offering. Give them to God with a sense of humility, worshipping the God who came to us as a small, defenseless baby,; give them to the Christ who was content to be born in a stable so that we could have a mansion when we die. Give your gifts to the one who became the greatest of men, the one who is the Son of Man, and the Son of God, who has in His life and death give you and me the greatest gift of all! Amen.