NATIVITY By Mike Herron

wealth are once again reversed in the presence of Jesus. They opened their treasure chests ( tithemi) and lavished on Jesus an offering that is reminiscent of the Queen of Sheba’s presents to King Solomon centuries before. ‘She arrived in Jerusalem…with spices, large quantities of gold, and precious jewels.’ (1 Kgs 10:2) This begins the Christian era of voluntary gifts given out of love and gratitude rather than by force and compulsion. The traditional meaning of the offerings fits the story best: gold for his Kingship; frankincense for his deity; and myrrh for his coming death on the cross. ‘He (Nicodemus) brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes...they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth.’ (Jn 19:39, 40) In a practical way, these offerings would sustain the family in their coming escape to Egypt as the Egyptians highly prized the spices for embalming their dead. 12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. (NLT) It is not surprising that God spoke to the wise men through a dream, as this was their profession. Inspired dreams would become a part of the language of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament times. ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people…Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.’ (Acts 2:17) Unfortunately their escape signaled impending doom for the children of Bethlehem.