The Gifts To A King

How Do You Give A Gift To A King?

Isaiah 9:6–7 NLT

6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

As we kick off the Christmas season I want to open up this series with a question for you. How do you give a gift to a king?

I was watching a documentary about giving gifts to kings and queens. It’s what they call a “royal protocol”. When you give these gift it shows how much you esteem them. Now this is important because it solidified their position in your life. As a ruler, giving a gift will symbolize the honor you have for that monarch.

When Jesus was born the wisemen brought 3 gifts, Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. You see the wisemen had an understanding of who Jesus was as the King of kings and therefore brought unto Him a gift based on the Royal Protocol.

Obviously the gifts were expensive and lavished for that time, but they also gave indication as to what the position was Baby Jesus took in their lives.

I want to spend this month looking at the importance of these 3 gifts brought unto Jesus and why it was so significant in it’s solidifying of who Jesus was and is.

So today we are going to look at the first gift - Gold

Gold was symbolic for prosperity, power, divinity or Kingship.

Haggai 2:8 NLT

8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

When we look at the temple of David what we see is a temple made up of the finest materials with the decorations of the perfect place. Particularly the Holy of Holy. Where God dwelled.

Now what was the perfect place on earth at one time where man lived? Eden. Where Gods presence and man dwelt together as one. But of course we all know that man sinned and therefore was separated from God’s presence or dwelling with Him in a more intimate setting. Dwelling with the ruler of the universe in a more intimate setting was banished. But there we have our first sign of Royalty.

Genesis 2:11–12 NLT

11 The first branch, called the Pishon, flowed around the entire land of Havilah, where gold is found. 12 The gold of that land is exceptionally pure; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there.

Now here is the question, why is Gold so important. Well for several reasons.

Golds chemical symbol is AU from the latin Aurum which means - Shining Dawn. Gold was thought to contain sun-like powers. Why?

Because the sun illuminates light in darkness. It brings us a sense of security. It produce heat which nurtures the ground for vegetation and then can be used for food, medicine and other things of value for us. Also it it is hard to come by. You can’t touch the sun.

This is much like Gold, it produces prosperity in ones life if you can acquire it.

Because it’s rare or better stated, costly to acquire. (Harder to find an ounce of gold than a 5 karat diamond?)

(Joke) So ladies next time you want a ring tell your husband to get you an ounce of Gold.

Now this is important because here is our first indication of Jesus being truly Royal. You would have never given a lowly person gold as a gift. That was for Royalty only.

How do we know this, well because Daniel tells us and He served 4-5 of the greatest kings of that time. So he knew what royalty was and how to conduct yourself in it’s presence.

Daniel 7:14 NLT

14 He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.

Listen if that’s not the purest state of a King of all kings, they knew. One thing about the wisemen is that they were wise, and they had studied all the prophecies and ancient text to get there information about this new King that would set up His Kingdom. His Church.

Think about the glory of God’s church it is expanded from one end of the earth to the other end. Every tongue and tribe on this earth has come to know Jesus. He is sovereign. This will never end, it can’t be destroyed.

Psalm 145:13 NLT

13 For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.

That symbolizes gold perfectly. Indestructible! Glorious! Vibrant and aluminous!

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Salvation, Consequences of

The movie The Hanging Tree was set in a western gold-mining camp in the late 1800’s. Gary Cooper played the role of doctor for the camp. One day, a young boy was seen robbing gold from the camp. He was shot from a distance but managed to hobble into hiding. All hands in the camp spread out to see who would be the first to kill him for this offense. The doctor found the hurt, frightened youth. He took him into his cabin, nursed him, and removed the bullet. After the boy regained consciousness, he inquired what the doctor would do with him now. The doctor held the slug in the boy’s face and said, “You will be my servant for as long as I want you to be, maybe forever, because that is how long you would be dead if this slug had remained in you.”

That is the length of condemnation for the slug of sin if it remains in us. The Great Physician has already performed the surgery to remove the slug. The painless operation of trust in him is the only requirement. It is our privilege to be servants of the One who healed us forever, for without his healing, we also would be dead forever.

Remember Jesus came for one reason only. To set you and me free form condemnation and that was costly, how costly, it cost him everything.

It’s a symbol for Perfection.

Gold is a symbol of royalty for the head of state, which always represents the people.

This is why when armies marched into battles the King or Queen always lead them. He/She was a symbol of power for that state and it did wonders for the moral of the troops. Plus they probably looked amazing in their armor sitting on their high horses. Very strong looking and perfect!

Revelation 19:11–16 NLT

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. 12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. 16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

So when we look at Jesus we see perfection.

Gold is Illuminous so it is symbolic for Christ being Illuminous.

Revelation 21:23 NLT

23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.

So again the wisemen knew that gold was a symbol of Christ perfection, in His kingship. He represented flawlessness for God the Father and His perfect church which is his kingdom now and to come.

It’s soft to the touch, but yet is indestructible and it’s resilience is undeniable. It can last for thousands of years without fading or corrosion.

Matthew 9:36 NLT

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Genesis 49:9–10 NLT

9 Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor.

Again why does the wisemen give Jesus Gold, it’s to show his rule as King of kings and Lord of lords. When we think of the Lion we think of a display of kingship after all he is the King of the jungle.

So Jesus is called the Lion of Judah, symbolic but true, Jesus comes through the line of the Davidic kings. But He is the one true king who is not flawed.

Gold that is put to the fire only gets more and more pure. Flawless.

He is sinless, not a spot or blemish. He’s like perfect gold. This is why Herod was upset! He found out from the wisemen all this information about this new King and that would mean that he was going to be dethroned in his mind.

Gold is the choice for govt. systems of currency.

Revelation 21:18 NLT

18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.

Revelation 21:21 NLT

21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.

There is no kingdom like Jesus kingdom, Gold in heaven will be like everyday stones and remember gold doesn’t corrode so the street and city will always be.

Jesus truly is the King of kings and this is why the wisemen knew and brought the perfect gift, for a perfect King.