While this is one of the most basic and important questions, few of us would be ready to answer this question if someone asked it of us. When you consider the Son of God, born of a virgin, who healed the sick, cured the blind, freed the possessed, bore the weight of the sin of the world, died, was buried, rose from the dead and reopened the Gates of Salvation, where do you begin? But what about the call to repentance and the forgiveness of sins? And the proclamation of the Kingdom of God?
Each of the Gospels shared the same dilemma, particularly when it came to the announcement of Jesus’ birth. Like any story, they needed to find a way to announce who this was that was born and why we should want to hear more of his story. The Gospel of Luke gives us the traditional Christmas story, a narrative account of the events that led to Jesus’ birth. Mark jumps right into the mission of Christ with his baptism, anointing of the Holy Spirit and declaration that he is God’s Beloved Son. John goes to the very beginning, recalling the Word that was God and was with God, coming into the flesh. The Gospel of Matthew begins with the recounting of the generations from Abraham to Jesus. In this way he communicates all of the promises, the witnesses to God’s love and the intricacy with which the Creator of the Universe wrote the birth of His Son into the fabric of history. But there is more. The Gospel also sight to communicate the mystery of Christ to those outside of Israel—they would not know who Abraham, Boaz and Ruth were. This is where the three magi came in, literally. The gifts that they brought both recognized and announced who this child was.
Gold, frankincense and myrrh. Who is Jesus? He is the king of kings. All creation on earth looks to him. He governs all nations. His wisdom surpasses that of all kings who have ever lived. He is the model for all who govern others, to show us the way of compassion, humility, of leadership and is command and control of all things.
Who is Jesus? He is the priest of priests, revealed in the incense. Not only is he concerned about our daily life, but he stands before us to God, his Father. He leads us to holiness, teaches us what is good and raises our prayers to God.
Who is Jesus? He is the one who has given his life for us and his death will be fragrant as incense and pleasing to God. Through his death, we find freedom and forgiveness of sins; death itself will be conquered and the gates of eternal life reopened.
Through gold, frankincense and myrrh, the wisemen announce to us the Jesus is the Lord over our earthly life, our heavenly life and the life in the world to come.