Jesus' Christmas List
How the Wise Men knew what gifts to bring Jesus and how you can too!
Jesus’ Christmas List
Remember when you were a kid and you wrote out a Christmas list? You would wake up on Christmas morning with high expectations! I remember wanting a little robot dog called Tekno. I woke up on Christmas morning, and sure enough, it was under the tree! I was thrilled! I probably played with that toy for a full 40 minutes before I got bored with it and lost it in the corner of my room. Sometimes we would write out a Christmas list and we would be left wanting. Maybe you still write a Christmas list. Ladies, perhaps your husband doesn’t do well with hints and he needs some specific instruction. Men need that. My wife just yesterday told me she doesn’t want anything this year. I’ve only been married for two years, but I feel like that is a test. I guess we will find out on Christmas!
We are all used to Christmas lists. But what if I told you that Jesus wrote a Christmas list for his birthday? What if I told you that the gifts of the wise men were not random at all, in fact, they are symbolic to biblical prophecy? What if I told you that Jesus still has a Christmas list and you can get him a gift that he actually wants?
Let’s read!
“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 he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”
Matthew 2:1-12 ESV
Wise men from the East travel to visit Jesus soon after his birth. This is one of those stories we have heard so many times we don’t second guess it. We just read and assume everything makes sense. But none of this makes sense! What are Eastern astrologers doing in Nazareth? Why did they come? How did they know a child was to be born who would be the King of the Jews? Why did they bring gifts? Why did they bring the gifts they brought?
There are more than enough questions to keep you searching in the field of scripture for the little treasure of revelation, this entire Christmas season. Let’s start at the top!
Who are these “wise men from the east” and how did they know about Jesus?
First, let's ask ourselves the question, “Have we heard of ‘wise men’ before?” Anyone? Did I hear someone say Daniel? Yes!
Here in Daniel Chapter 4, we read a story of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream.
“Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: “I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.”
The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.”
“Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.”
Daniel 2:25-28, 46-49 ESV
Daniel was the chief of the wise men! He was the leader of the magicians, astrologers, and enchanters. Now, that raises a whole slew of different questions which we can get into at a later date. But for today, it is vital to know that Daniel was not only one of the wise men, he was in charge of them!
So, to answer our question,
Who are these “wise men from the east” and how did they know about Jesus?
We don’t need to look much further. Wise men from Babylon seems to be a good match for “wise men from the east”. Though Babylon as we think of it didn’t exist at the time of Jesus, it could be that a cohort of “wise men” survived through the centuries and carried with them the writings of Daniel. These wise men would likely have studied Daniel’s writings as we study Chaucer, Dante, or Moore. How did they know about Jesus? They may have read the book of Daniel! And it is my belief they had taken a particular interest in Daniel 9.
“Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.
Daniel 9:25-27 ESV
What a strange vision from Daniel, chief of the wise men from the east, 600 years before Christ.
The wise men from the east come to visit Jesus. And what do they bring?
Gold
Frankincense
Myrrh
Why?
Perhaps they knew something about this Anointed One who would come.
Let’s think about each of these gifts for a moment.
Gold. Gold is a universal symbol of royalty and power. Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
Frankincense. Frankincense is an expensive fragrance. It was a specific ingredient in the incense burned in the Temple. It was also a priestly anointing oil.
Myrrh. Myrrh is an ointment used in burial.
Let’s just look past all the Sevens. I get it, this is a complicated interpretation. Daniel's vision in the early part of the chapter is even more discombobulating. But, if we don’t focus on the sevens and the dates we see three determinations. The Anointed One who is yet to come will do three specific things. What are they?
The Anointed One will be a RULER who rebuilds Jerusalem.
The Anointed One will destroy the TEMPLE.
The Anointed One will be put to DEATH and have nothing.
It looks to me, these wise men certainly knew their Text!
They brought gifts that symbolize the three things the Anointed One will accomplish in Daniel 9!
Gold : The Anointed One will be a RULER who rebuilds Jerusalem.
Frankincense: The Anointed One will destroy the TEMPLE.
Myrrh : The Anointed One will be put to DEATH and have nothing.
It is almost as if Jesus had a Christmas list. The wise men knew exactly what to get this newborn king.
That’s all interesting enough but what impact does it have on us?
This Christmas, what gift are you bringing the Anointed One?
Do we know our Text well enough to know what Jesus is asking for?
What is on Jesus’ Christmas list?
This Christmas, I encourage you to get Jesus a Christmas gift that is on his Christmas list.
Here’s a good place to start.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
Matthew 25:34-40 ESV
Search the Gospels and see what Jesus actually wants.
May your gift to the Lord be exactly what he asked for; just like the gifts of the wise men.