9/22/2007

Christmas presents

Matthew 2:11 - 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.

I wonder why the Magi decided they should bring gifts to Jesus. The items they brought were expensive. I wonder how much of a security force traveled with them.

They seem to have understood that Jesus was more than an earthly king. Sure, some kings claimed to be gods and forced you to worship them and sacrifice to them, but this was a child whom they voluntarily worshiped and gave gifts to.

I wonder what Mary and Joseph thought of all this. True, they already knew Jesus was special, but foreigners tracking them down, bowing down in worship, and leaving expensive treasures? They hadn't publicized this to anyone yet really -- much less to guys like these from far away. Remember, no cell phones or TV yet.

I wonder what they did with the treasures. Probably sold at least some of it for the trip to Egypt. Or maybe used it as needed along the way.

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