The sermon was on how incredibly, astonishingly, mind-bogglingly, excitingly cool God is. Pastor Holman started talking about the wise men. When they heard that Jesus had been born in Bethlehem--only about five miles away--they rejoiced with exceeding joy: "exceeding" being the word used in Revelation in reference to hundred-pound hailstones. This qualifies as Joy. (Side note: the poor Greeks had to use words to get across their meaning; they didn't have exclamation points. I think we would do well to pay attention to how their words meant something.)
And then--oh, great happiness-the wise men found Him. And they gave Him presents.
The first is gold: oh, for He is the King. Hail, great King! May You live forever--and You will.
The second is frankincense. He is the Great High Priest, who always lives to make intercession for us.
The third is myrrh. Embalming fluid. He takes the office of Melchizedek a step further: King and Priest, and now Sacrifice. "[N]or was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself" (Heb 25-26).
Born a king on Bethlehem's plain.
Gold I bring to crown Him again.
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.
Frankincense to offer have I.
Incense owns a deity Nigh.
Prayer and praising, all men raising,
Worship Him, God on high!
Myrrh is mine. Its bitter perfume
Leads a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in a stone-cold tomb.
Glorious now, behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice!
Alleluia, alleluia,
Earth to heaven replies!
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