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 prophet Jeremiah notes that Sheba was the
source of a
valuable resin known as frankincense:
“For what purpose to Me comes frankincense
from Sheba” (Jeremiah 6:20).
Frankincense has been harvested and traded in Africa
and the Middle East for thousands of years. It 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 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
