Epiphany: Giving Jesus the Magi’s 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 in the east and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:1-2).
January 6th marks a special day in the church year. It is Epiphany. It commemorates the “appearance” of the star of Bethlehem that ultimately led the Magi into the very presence of the one born to be king.
As we celebrate this special day, our contemplation includes not only the joyous revealing of this Savior to the world, but also the blessed response of the Magi. As the Magi came, they not only honored him with their worship, but gave offerings of rare and precious gifts, a response we do well to consider as we worship our Lord.
As we read Matthew 2:1-18, we recognize that our Lord Jesus was born into a hostile world. Matthew’s account does not let us romanticize or trivialize the danger facing this newborn king. The danger was real. The lives of innocent children were lost, taken by a jealous and paranoid earthly king. Thankfully, the holy family was warned and they escaped.
While Herod’s actions were immediately life-threatening to Jesus, for us, His coming was life-saving! That is why the spiritual journey to see Jesus does not end at Bethlehem—it is just the beginning. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin, Jesus lived a holy life in our place. His atoning death on the cross marked the fact that the punishment we deserved was once and for all time paid in full. The empty tomb upon his resurrection gives full assurance that our Lord’s promises are true as He states, “Because I live, you shall live also” (John 14:19).
Matthew records, “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 and of incense and of myrrh” (Matthew 2:10-11).
As we live for Christ, we are asked to “journey” beyond the safe havens of our homes and to share this good news with the lost. Our gifts, much like those of the magi, include the giving of our time and talents as we share this good news. We also mirror the Magi in giving him of our treasures so that together we can spread the Gospel to the very ends of the earth.
As we confess that this Jesus is indeed the King of kings and our Lord and Savior, we gladly give of ourselves and our treasures in his service. In essence, we give the gifts of the magi as we give cheerfully from a thankful heart knowing that he came in great humility that we might share in his glory.
Daniel A. Basel is the ELS Giving Counselor who lives in Mankato, Minnesota.