The wise men brought three gifts to Jesus: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These three gifts are significant to who Jesus is. The gift of gold represents royalty and Jesus is King of kings. “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16).
The gift of frankincense represents Jesus’ priesthood. In Leviticus 2, we are told of how the priests would use frankincense in the temple, and we know that Jesus is our great High Priest. “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14).
The gift of myrrh represents His death. Myrrh was a spice used to anoint the dead for burial. As our coming Savior, Jesus would eventually lay down His life willingly to pay the penalty of sin in our stead. “As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:15). “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God” (Romans 6:10).
