A LOT TO PUT INTO A LITTLE CRADLE

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." . . . And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, the presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:1-2, 11) Many misconceptions and legends have grown up around the birth of Jesus. Some of these legends have to do with these wise men from the East. For example, the Bible never says there were three, but we sing "We Three Kings of Orient Are." The Bible never says they were kings - they were "magi," an order of Persian wise men, perhaps founded by centuries earlier by Daniel the prophet.
	Traditions even give us names for these "three kings": Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar - and supposedly, their skulls are in a golden shrine at the great Dom in Cologne, Germany. The Bible doesn't indicate they came on the night Jesus was born, but probably much later - perhaps in the first year or so of His birth, having set out on their journey the night He was born.
This we do know from the Biblical record: they brought at least three gifts, and fitting gifts for the Child – and for the Man He would grow up to be. They brought gold – a fitting gift for a king. History tells us that in ancient Persia whenever one appeared before the king, one had to have a gift of gold. These Persian wise men honored a child as a king. Strange, isn't it? Children aren't born kings; they are born princes and become kings. But this Child was different from any other king; from all eternity, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords; He was the king in a cradle! The Bible says He would reign from the throne of David, and reign forever and ever - but first, He reigns in the hearts of those who embrace His kingly authority. They brought frankincense – a fitting gift for a priest. Frankincense is a glittering, fragrant resin from trees, used as incense by the priests of Israel. Incense is always a picture of prayer and intercession in the Bible, because its sweet smell ascends into the heavens. This was an appropriate gift for Jesus, our High Priest and intercessor before God. In the Biblical picture, a priest represents who God is to the people, and a priest represents the people before God. Jesus did both perfectly, showing us who God is, and leading us to God right now. The Bible says He ever lives to pray for His people; Jesus is the interpreter, the legal defender, the friend, the go-between before God for His people. The little Child shows us how far God would go to supply a High Priest for His people. They brought myrrh – a fitting gift for someone who would die. Myrrh was a fragrant spice, used primarily in embalming. This is an appropriate gift for Jesus, who came to die. Even at His birth the pale shadow of the cross cast its dark image over the cradle of Jesus; here is a Man born to live, and to show us God, to heal, to teach. He did all that and more. But more than anything, He was born to die for our sins. On the cross, He bore the judgment we deserved, and stood in place for all who would receive Him. It seems unlikely these wise men from the East knew just how fitting their gifts were. But we can know. We are invited to remember and receive Jesus Christ as our King, our High Priest, and the One who paid the price for sin we deserve to pay. That is a lot to put into a little cradle - but God did it. By David Guzik enduringword.com PRAISE GOD BLESSED BE THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD