Trivia, Wise Men?

Question

The wise men visited jesus when he was two, what was the significance of the gifts they brought?

Answer 1

I.Gold presents Jesus As Potentate. In some countries, no one could approach a king without a gift–here it is gold. First, it is a fitting gift. Gold is very appropriate for a king. Then, it is a foretelling gift–it tells us in advance that Jesus will rule and reign. Also, it was a foreordained gift. God had before designed that Jesus’ family have this gold to help defray the cost of the journey into Egypt and back. God is the One who can always meet needs (Phil. 4:19). Since we can never meet Jesus on equal footing with Him, we should always bow in submission before our Lord and acknowledge He is King of Kings–Lord of Lords.

II. Frankincense presents Jesus As Priest. If you study out the word "frankincense," you will discover that it would be a priestly gift. It was used in the worship at the temple and when sacrifices were offered up to God. The frankincense was a gummy substance which came from trees. It released a sweet smelling odor. The Book of Hebrews tells us that His priesthood is permanent, powerful, and that it procures for us entrance into the presence of God.

III. Myrrh Presents Jesus As Propitiator. Myrrh was a substance used to embalm dead bodies. It reminds us that Jesus came into the world to die for sinners (1 Tim.1:15). He came to "propitiate" or "satisfy" the holy demands of a just and righteous God in regard to sin (1 Jn. 4:10). This was inclusive (Heb.2:9), important (Acts17:3),and also is indicative of God’s love (Jn. 3:16).

Answer 2

They were very rare in thier culture. The gold, frankincense, & myrrh were only used by the highest order of kings and queens. The lower class never had or could afford such things. By the magi, or three wise men, bringing these to Jesus they were recognizing his power and significance as the Son of God and King of the Jews.

Answer 3

This is just a personal opinion after checking with the dictionary in the back of my Bible (King James version). The wise men who came were not only educated in astronomy, but they were also spiritually educated and prepared to find the Son of God. In that respect the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh not only symbolize the kinds of gifts you would give to a king, but the King of Kings. The inclusion of frankincense and myrrh suggest a sacrificial offering and future death and embalming, which means the wise men probably knew exactly what Jesus Christ's mission was all about even from the beginning of His mortal life.
Here is what my dictionary says:
Gold - found in the land of Havilah, used in the tablernacle, in the temple, and in Solomon's house. Many instances are given in the O.T. of its use for purposes of ornament...part of the offering made by the wise men to the infant Savior (Matthew 2:11) (Other references excluded)
Frankincense - The fragrant resinous exudration of various species of Boswellia; it was imported into Judaea from Arabia. It was an ingredient in the holy incense for sacrificial purposes and was highly valued as a perfume. (References excluded)
Myrrh - Used in the preparation of the holy ointment, in the purification of women, as a perfume, and for embalming. It was obtained from various thorny shrubs of the dry districts of Arabia and eastern Africa. In Genesis myrrh is the gum of the rock rose.

Answer 4

This is a great question.

The wise men were a caste of magicians.
They specialized in Medicine, physical sciences, astrology.
The meaning of the gifts they brought have remained illusive.
Gold, we know, was of value and still is.
Frankincense lifts the spirits if you have ever smelled it.
Myrrh is a healing herb.
It posses properties that stop bleeding and has antiseptic properties.

Answer 5

The significance of those gifts was (going on my Wiccan beliefs), Frankencense "It is stimulant, but seldom used now internally, though formerly was in great repute . Pliny mentions it as an antidote to hemlock. Avicenna (tenth century) recommends it for tumours, ulcers, vomiting, dysentery and fevers. In China it is used for leprosy.", Myrrh ( Myrrh was an extremely valuable commodity during biblical times and was imported from India and Arabia.), and Gold (money)

Answer 6

Gold- is earthly kingdom
Frankincense- Spiritually kingdom
myrrh- Important life and death

Legend says that the gifts were laid out before the Christ to see which he took, which would signify what kind of king he would be.
It is said the the child with both hand took some form all three.

Answer 7

Top Ten Signs You're a Fundamentalist Christian
10 - You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.
9 - You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt
8 - You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God
7 - Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" including women, children, and trees!

6 - You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky.

5 - You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of Earth (few billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old.

4 - You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs -- though excluding those in all rival sects - will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving."

3 - While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be all the evidence you need to "prove" Christianity.

2 - You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God.

1 - You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history - but still call yourself a Christian

Answer 8

The gifts were returnable within 30 days as long as they were brought back in the original packaging.

Answer 9

They were the items needed to bury a person. In effect, they were preparing him for his death.

The oils used to annoint the dead in pharasitical judiasm contained frankenscence and myrhh as a preserving agent, and I believe that the gold was placed in the oil during the blessing of it.

Answer 10

Gold--Jesus Is King.
Frankincense--Jesus Is God.
Myrre--Jesus Was Destined To Die.