- The Gifts We Bring
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Devotion by David & Joannie Hulme
Download CBC’s Advent Devotional, The Gifts We Bring
When the Magi brought gifts to the Christ Child, one of those gifts was Frankincense. Frankincense is a resinous substance that comes from certain trees in the balsam family. When it hardens, it produces what is considered the finest burning incense in the world. Besides being an extravagant gift, is there anything about this gift that contains a clue concerning the child to whom the gift is given?
In Exodus 30, God instructed Moses to build an altar on which a priest would burn incense. As part of the worship of God and sacrifices offered to God, the priest was commanded to burn incense as “a regular incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations.” God was also very particular about the incense, “sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (in equal parts), and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.” (Exodus 30:1-8, 34-35)
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for priest (côhên) denotes one who offers sacrifices. The need for a priest was directly connected to a consciousness of sin. As a result of Adam’s sin, all of humankind became separated from a pure and holy God. With no hope of restoring their relationship on their own, it was necessary for someone to intercede on their behalf. In short, a priest represented the people before God and offered prescribed sacrifices, including atoning sacrifices for their sins. This Christ Child, Jesus, God’s Son, to whom the Magi brought frankincense, lived a sinless life. He willingly went to the cross, the perfect sacrifice, and died for the sins of the world. In offering himself, Jesus was not only the sacrifice but also the priest offering the sacrifice on behalf of all humankind. Jesus rose from the dead and sits at the right hand of God. Therefore, we no longer need an earthly priest to be our advocate before a pure and holy God. We have direct access through Jesus, our Great High Priest. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Balsam-scented candles are quite popular during Christmas and Advent. While not on the same level as the finest incense in the world, the next time you enter a house where a balsam-scented candle is burning, may it do more than put you in a “Christmas spirit.” May it in some way remind you of Christ, the great High Priest, who offered himself “one sacrifice for sins, once for all” (Hebrews 10:10, 12).
Discussion Guide
- Share a story of the strangest gift that you received one Christmas.
- As you reflect on the passage from Matthew and this week’s devotional, what do you hear God say? Where do you see God at work?
- This week’s devotional spoke of the priesthood of Jesus. Jesus came not only as a priest who would understand us but also as the sacrifice necessary for our salvation. How do you respond to this imagery of priest and sacrifice?
- Scripture says that this priest is able to understand and empathize with us because he experienced this life just as we do, yet was without sin. Jesus knows you, and He knows your story. Where do you need to know that Jesus is fully present in your life and empathizing with you?