Notes of Faith December 16, 2024
An Anointed High Priest
And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11
Modern Yemen occupies the southwest coastal corner of the Arabian Peninsula. Many scholars identify this region as the ancient kingdom of Sheba described in the Bible. And the prophet Jeremiah notes that Sheba was the source of the valuable resin known as frankincense: “For what purpose to Me comes frankincense from Sheba” (Jeremiah 6:20).
Ex 30:34-37
34 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Take for yourself spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, spices with pure frankincense; there shall be an equal part of each. 35 "With it you shall make incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure, and holy. 36 "You shall beat some of it very fine, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you; it shall be most holy to you. 37 "The incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the Lord
Frankincense has been harvested and traded in Africa and the Middle East for thousands of years. Gleaned from a certain tree as liquid sap that hardens into a resin, frankincense releases a fragrant aroma when burned. It was highly valued in religious and ceremonial services, including in the Old Testament. It was associated with the priestly services in the tabernacle and temple. When the Magi presented frankincense to the baby Jesus, it signified His future role as High Priest for the saints of God (Hebrews 2:17; 4:15).
As High Priest, Jesus is the “one Mediator between God and men” (1 Timothy 2:5) as foreseen by the gift of the Magi.
In his life, Christ is an example...in his intercession a high priest.
Martin Luther
Jesus is the only example of One who is prophet, priest and king. He fulfills all roles of relationship between God and man. He is the God/Man. We worship the One who speaks the Word of God, who serves as our intercessor, our great high priest, and the One who rules over all that is, our King. Give thanks today for God who loves and created a way for relationship with Him after mankind’s disobedience (sin), choosing to believe the lies of Satan instead of the truth of God.
Offer God today the fragrant aroma of your believing faith, trust and hope in Him! A frankincense offering that continues night and day in worship to our faithful God!
Pastor Dale