Epiphany celebrates the Magi’s journey to worship Jesus. It represents the coming of Jesus to all – to Gentiles and Jews alike. The Magi saw the star from afar and traveled to worship the Christ Child. They brought him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh – each of which tells us something about Jesus’ identity.
What the Bible Tells Us about the Magi
The biblical account describes:
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. – Matthew 2:1-2, 9-12
Gold – the Kingship of Jesus
The magi’s gifts were not simply a demonstration of wealth – they conveyed deeper meaning. The gold represents Jesus’ kingship. As Daniel 7:13-14 says:
As the visions during the night continued,
I saw coming with the clouds of heaven
One like a son of man.
When he reached the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, splendor, and kingship;
all nations, peoples and tongues will serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
his kingship, one that shall not be destroyed.
Jesus’ kingship transcends all earthly rulers – the Magi recognized that, and they came to worship him.
Frankincense – the Deity of Jesus
The frankincense represents Jesus’ deity. In the Old Testament, frankincense was traditionally burned in the temple as an offering to God (Leviticus 2:2). By bringing this gift, the Magi affirmed Jesus was no ordinary man; he is both fully man and fully God.
As Colossians 2:9-10 says:
For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily, and you share in this fullness in him, who is the head of every principality and power.
Myrrh – the Death of Jesus
Commonly used to embalm bodies, the gift of myrrh foreshadows Jesus’ death. We see in John 19:38-40 that Nicodemus brought myrrh at the time of Jesus’ burial:
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body. Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.
In this way, the full story of Jesus’ coming is revealed. Jesus was born so that we might have salvation. Through Jesus’ death, we have eternal life.
The Magi’s Gifts: Pointing to the Ultimate Gift
The gifts of the Magi illuminate the different aspects of Christ’s identity. He is king, he is God, and, in his marvelous grace, he died, so that we might live. As the Magi actively pursued Jesus, so too should we follow Christ without hesitation, letting him be our guiding star. As Pope Francis stated:
It is not enough to know where Jesus was born, as the scribes did, if we do not go there. It is not enough to know that Jesus was born, like Herod, if we do not encounter him. When his place becomes our place, when his time becomes our time, when his person becomes our life, then the prophecies come to fulfillment in us. Then Jesus is born within us. He becomes the living God for me. Today we are asked to imitate the Magi. They do not debate; they set out. They do not stop to look, but enter the house of Jesus. They do not put themselves at the center, but bow down before the One who is the center.
In the Basilica, the Magi are depicted in the Nativity Chapel in the Great Upper Church, as well as a column capital in the North Apse of the Crypt Church.
Who Was the First American to Be Canonized as a Saint?
Where to Find Mary Portrayed as the Mother of God in the Basilica
FAQs
The gifts of the Magi illuminate the different aspects of Christ's identity. He is king, he is God, and, in his marvelous grace, he died, so that we might live. As the Magi actively pursued Jesus, so too should we follow Christ without hesitation, letting him be our guiding star.
What gifts did the Magi bring to Jesus? ›
Biblical Magi. The Gospel of Matthew (2:1–12) speaks of Magi, or wise men, who followed a star from the East to Bethlehem in search of a newborn king. There they found Mary and the baby Jesus and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
What do the 3 gifts of the Magi represent Catholic? ›
Irenaeus says that the gifts signify the mystery of the Incarnate Word (God who has become man): gold, a symbol of royalty, represents his kingship; frankincense, used in worship, points to his divinity; and myrrh represents his humanity, particularly in his passion and death (Against Heresies, 3, 9, 2).
What is the meaning of the three gifts presented to Jesus? ›
The three gifts had a spiritual meaning: gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of deity, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death. This dates back to Origen in Contra Celsum: "gold, as to a king; myrrh, as to one who was mortal; and incense, as to a God."
What does the gift of Magi teach us about? ›
"The Gift of the Magi": Theme and Analysis
It is a story about sacrifice, and the value of love being greater than the value of worldly possessions. Jim and Della have barely enough money to pay their bills; yet, they are generous with each other. They do not allow poverty to stand in the way of their love.
What is the significance of 3 in the story "The gift of the Magi"? ›
Answer and Explanation: The number three is probably used by O. Henry as a significant number in 'The Gift of the Magi' because there were three magi, or wise men, and O. Henry alluded to them in the title of the story.
Why is The Gift of the Magi famous? ›
As a sentimental story with a moral lesson about gift-giving, it has been popular for adaptation, especially for presentation at Christmas time. The plot and its twist ending are well known; the ending is generally considered an example of cosmic irony.
What gifts did Jesus give us? ›
45 Gifts Jesus Gives You
- Justified by faith (v. 1) We have a right standing with God because we have been declared righteous before Him. ...
- Peace with God (v. ...
- Access to the Father (v. ...
- Stand before God in grace (v. ...
- Hope of the glory of God (v. ...
- Suffering and tribulation (v. ...
- Love of God (v. ...
- The precious Holy Spirit (v.
Paul on Mt. Athos (in Greek Άγιον Όρος, meaning “Holy Mountain”) one of the most precious, and invaluable to Greek Orthodoxy, are the Holy Gifts that are believed to have been offered by the Three Wise Men, also known as the Three Kings or the Magi, of the East to the newborn Jesus.
Which gift did Melchior bring? ›
According to Western church tradition, Melchior is often represented as a king of Persia and is usually said to have given the gift of gold to the Christ Child. In art he is frequently depicted as the oldest of the three Magi, often with a long white beard.
Gold, a metal, is a symbol of earthly kingship; frankincense, an incense, is a symbol of godliness; and myrrh, an embalming oil, is a symbol of death. Thus the gifts were given in recognition of Jesus's importance within the Christian story.
What is the meaning of Magi in The Gift of the Magi? ›
The Magi were the three wise men who brought gifts to Jesus Christ when he was born. Magi is the plural of magus, a magus is a wise man or magician. The words magic and magician are derived from magus. If you have worked with the first four lessons in ELLSA, review the elements used in The Gift of the Magi.
Why did the magi bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh? ›
Frankincense was used for worship in the Temple; it is symbolic of Christ the High Priest. Gold is symbolic of Christ the King. Myrrh a perfume, was used to anoint dead bodies, it is symbolic of His death for the sake of truth, and therefore of Christ the Prophet.
What does myrrh symbolize? ›
The first, referred to in the carol 'We Three Kings', interprets the gifts as symbolising three aspects of Christ's future life: gold representing kingship, frankincense (worship) and myrrh (death and mourning).
What message can you learn from The Gift of the Magi? ›
Moral of the Gift of the Magi Story
The story teaches us the valuable lesson of loving and caring for others. In the story, both Jim and Della sold their most loved possessions in order to buy something beautiful for each other. The story is a great way to teach kids to be loving and kind to their families.
What is the meaning of Magi in the story of The Gift of the Magi? ›
The Magi were the three wise men who brought gifts to Jesus Christ when he was born. Magi is the plural of magus, a magus is a wise man or magician. The words magic and magician are derived from magus. If you have worked with the first four lessons in ELLSA, review the elements used in The Gift of the Magi.
Why did the magi worship Jesus? ›
They Bowed and Worshipped
Both came to celebrate and honor the newborn king. The Magi recognized the differences between Godly kingship (Jesus) and worldly kingship (Herod), which is why did not honor Herod's instructions to tell him the exact birthplace of the child they sought.
What point is The Gift of the Magi? ›
Answer and Explanation: O. Henry's story "The Gift of the Magi" is told in omniscient third-person point of view. This means that a narrator is relaying the information of the story to the reader, and is able to describe what is happening in both Jim's and Della's minds and hearts.
Jesus’ kingship transcends all earthly rulers – the Magi recognized that, and they came to worship him.
 - Which law would you use to simplify the expression mc^(006)-1.jpg?... (1 Answer) | Transtutors)