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CAPA Corner: Words of Encouragement from the Central Area Pastor’s Association
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As we celebrate Christmas, many of you might have a nativity scene placed up on your mantle or a shelf. And, if you have small children like me, you might have your shepherds replaced by Buzz Light-year! In any case, as we think about the little baby in the manger, a question comes to mind. Why did Jesus have to come to earth? This is the whole reason for the season, but why was it God’s purpose? I think to answer this question we need not look any further than the three wise men mentioned in the bible, and more specifically the gifts that they brought.
For example, the first wise man gave Jesus gold. In that society, gold was reserved for people of great wealth or importance, such as kings. So, for the magi to give a gift of gold he would have been declaring that Jesus was his king. The second gift was Frankincense (not to be confused with the green monster). This was incense. We use incense today to make the house smell good, but in Jesus’ day, it was used in temples as an act of worship to a god. When this man gave the gift to Jesus, he was proclaiming something about his identity, that he was the Son of God. The final gift was Myrrh. This is the strangest to give a child. Myrrh was expensive oil that was used to put on dead bodies. It was an embalming fluid! Though this sounds kind of creepy to give a child, it was a huge declaration of the purpose of Jesus.
Simply put, Jesus was God’s son, and he came for the purpose of dying. Why? He came to die to pay the penalty for sins so that we could be forgiven and free. But, he wouldn’t stay in the grave. He would rise victorious to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! This is why we celebrate Christmas! With the coming of Jesus came love, forgiveness, and new life. As the child appeared, so did hope for all of mankind, for the sin that would have condemned us has been forgiven! Merry Christmas everyone!
Jason Allen
First Baptist Central
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