Christmas Is Jesus (Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh)
The sermon emphasizes the importance of giving, worship, and sacrifice at Christmas, highlighting the cost of Jesus' birth and the need to yield to Him as our King.
Colin Peckham preaches on the significance of the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh presented to Jesus at His birth, emphasizing the act of giving during Christmas as a reflection of God giving His Son for the salvation of mankind. Gold symbolizes offering our wealth and possessions to our King, recognizing that we belong to Him and should yield what we have to Him. Frankincense represents worship and adoration towards Jesus, the baby King, while myrrh signifies the willingness to endure suffering for His sake, including sacrificial living, selfless involvement in spreading the gospel, and offering something that costs us.
Text
"And when they had opened their treasures they presented unto Him gifts; gold, frankincense and myrrh" (Matt. 2:11)
CHRISTMAS-TIME is a time of giving. Children delight in it because of all the presents they receive, but primarily this time of giving is a time when we remember that God gave His Son to be born for the salvation of mankind.
The first Christmas was very costly. The Eastern worshippers came to the child Jesus and gave gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Gold represents our wealth and possessions which we may offer to our King.
We remember at this time of the year that we are not our own, we are bought with a price. For us it is to yield what we have to our Lord and Master. This is reasonable and right. This is the heart of service -- giving what we have and are to the Lord. If we cling to our treasures and enjoy them for ourselves, others will not profit. We can give our treasures -- what we have and are -- to the Lord Jesus, and He will release them to the enrichment of multitudes. Let us give our gold to Him this Christmas-time.
Frankincense represents worship.
These men worshipped the baby King. They adored the Lord of glory. They honoured, revered and praised the One who was worthy. They worshipped. Let us, with them, stand in awe and wonder at the miracle of the Incarnation -- 'God and man in oneness blending.'
'Veiled in flesh the God-head see
Hail the Incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell
Jesus our Emmanuel.'
God has come to us in Christ. Let us worship the One who became a son of man that we might become the sons of God.
Myrrh -- that bitter thing -- was also offered. This surely signifies the things we are willing to suffer for His sake.
So many today are not prepared to suffer. They would rather take the easy and comfortable way. If their Christianity is to cost them anything, they would rather compromise so that everything will run smoothly and suffering be averted. The rugged Cross is dressed in attractive robes --- it no longer hurts.
Physical hardship when necessary, sacrificial living and giving, selfless involvement in the spread of the gospel, willingness to sacrifice enjoyable times for more profitable times in the spiritual realm -- this is myrrh. Sometimes it may be hard work in the obscure office of a missionary society, sometimes wearisome visiting from door to door in the hot sun, inviting people to meetings, sometimes spending time in intercession when you could be with friends -- this is myrrh -- offering to Him something that costs.
Who will offer Him not only gold and frankincense, but myrrh as well this Christmas? He surely offered it for us. It cost Him all.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Cost of Christmas
- A. The first Christmas was very costly
- B. The Eastern worshippers gave gold, frankincense and myrrh
- II. Giving to Our King
- A. Gold represents our wealth and possessions
- B. We are not our own, we are bought with a price
- III. Worship and Adoration
- A. Frankincense represents worship
- B. We should stand in awe and wonder at the Incarnation
- IV. Suffering for His Sake
- A. Myrrh signifies the things we are willing to suffer for His sake
- B. We should be willing to sacrifice for the spread of the gospel
Key Quotes
“''Veiled in flesh the God-head see / Hail the Incarnate Deity / Pleased as man with men to dwell / Jesus our Emmanuel.''” — Colin Peckham
“God has come to us in Christ. Let us worship the One who became a son of man that we might become the sons of God.” — Colin Peckham
“He surely offered it for us. It cost Him all.” — Colin Peckham
Application Points
- We should be willing to give up our wealth and possessions to our King and yield to Him as our Lord and Master.
- We should worship and adore Jesus at Christmas, standing in awe and wonder at the miracle of the Incarnation.
- We should be willing to suffer for His sake and sacrifice for the spread of the gospel.