Hey Sunshines:)
Something keeps pushing me to write this post, it's taken been on my list to write for weeks and taken about five days constructing it, I've been reluctant as I'm not very knowledgeable about the bible or this subject, I defiantly wasn't in bible times so I can't say things as fact ...if I was I don't remember :) All joking aside lets get on with this post which is based on my own opinion which has been built up from blog posts, the tiny portion of the bible I've read, & a tv program which is hosted by Josh Gates, Expedition Unknown, In this particular episode is where Josh is investaging about Jesus's birth place.
There was some interesting things said in this episode from people Josh meet, one is the timeline of Jesus's birth which then has the butterfly effect that would then make some story's or versus in the bible not add up, Then another was that the versus or story's in the bible are told by people that may not be from that timeline that have heard the story's.
So would that make the bible based on history, or Chinese whispers?
If you have ever played the game of Chinese whispers you may know that by the end what was said at the start may have been changed either on purpose or misconception of what was told.
This is what I mean by Chinese whispers in the bible if it is based on story's told from others that the story's may have some misconception in them, either error or a change, Would this also come down to the way we perceive things also either it be the way the writer perceive or the reader as we may see things in a different light.
What makes this interesting to me is that we all want to know the truth from history, to find something concreate but how can we find concreate truth to back up story's from any bible from all back grounds of religion.
Is this where we can only ask our creator to show us the truth?
In the story of the bible the wise men gave gifts of Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh for Jesus.
I haven't taken much notice over the years of the gifts, only really knowing that one was gold, researching healing health Myrrh came up, lightly reading bible passages, Frankincense came up.
Reading blog posts which seem to sum up these three gifts where fit for a king, but is there more to this as in the bible if you class it as lessons to be learnt, history or both there is quite a lot to learn, that these three gifts take us on a journey.
What were the uses of the three wise men's gifts thru the bible, what are the uses today?
Lets start this journey....
| Luke 2:1-52
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ...
| John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
| Matthew 2:11
And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
| Traditional nativity scenes depict three "Wise Men" visiting the infant Jesus on the night of his birth, in a manger accompanied by the shepherds and angels, but this should be understood as an artistic convention allowing the two separate scenes of the Adoration of the Shepherds on the birth night and the later Adoration of the Magi to be combined for convenience.[7] The single biblical account in Matthew simply presents an event at an unspecified point after Christ's birth in which an unnumbered party of unnamed "wise men" (μάγοι, mágoi) visits him in a house (οἰκίαν, oikian),[8] not a stable, with only "his mother" mentioned as present. The New Revised Standard Version of Matthew 2:1–12 describes the visit of the Magi in this manner:
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another path.
| The text specifies no interval between the birth and the visit, and artistic depictions and the closeness of the traditional dates of December 25 and January 6 encourage the popular assumption that the visit took place the same winter as the birth, but later traditions varied, with the visit taken as occurring up to two winters later. This maximum interval explained Herod's command at Matthew 2:16–18 that the Massacre of the Innocents included boys up to two years old. More recent commentators, not tied to the traditional feast days, may suggest a variety of intervals.[9]
The wise men are mentioned twice shortly thereafter in verse 16, in reference to their avoidance of Herod after seeing Jesus, and what Herod had learned from their earlier meeting. The star which they followed has traditionally become known as the Star of Bethlehem.
| Many different theories of the meaning and symbolism of the gifts have been brought forward. While gold is fairly obviously explained, frankincense, and particularly myrrh, are much more obscure.
| The theories generally break down into two groups:
- All three gifts are ordinary offerings and gifts given to a king. Myrrh being commonly used as an anointing oil, frankincense as a perfume, and gold as a valuable.
- 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."[48]
These interpretations are alluded to in the verses of the popular carol "We Three Kings" in which the magi describe their gifts. The last verse includes a summary of the interpretation: "Glorious now behold Him arise/King and God and sacrifice."
Sometimes this is described more generally as gold symbolizing virtue, frankincense symbolizing prayer, and myrrh symbolizing suffering.
Myrrh was used as an embalming ointment and as a penitential incense in funerals and cremations until the 15th century. The "holy oil" traditionally used by the Eastern Orthodox Church for performing the sacraments of chrismation and unction is traditionally scented with myrrh, and receiving either of these sacraments is commonly referred to as "receiving the myrrh".
It has been suggested by scholars that the "gifts" were medicinal rather than precious material for tribute.[50][51][52]
| What subsequently happened to these gifts is never mentioned in the scripture, but several traditions have developed.[55] One story has the gold being stolen by the two thieves who were later crucified alongside Jesus. Another tale has it being entrusted to and then misappropriated by Judas. One tradition suggests that Joseph and Mary used the gold to finance their travels when they fled Bethlehem after an angel had warned, in a dream, about King Herod's plan to kill Jesus. And another story proposes the theory that the myrrh given to them at Jesus' birth was used to anoint Jesus' body after his crucifixion.
| John 19:38-40
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
| Proverbs 2:1-22
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. ...
Myrrh
| Myrrh is mentioned as a rare perfume in several places in the Hebrew Bible. In Genesis 37:25, the Ishmaelite traders to whom Jacob's sons sold their brother Joseph had "camels ... loaded with spices, balm, and myrrh," and Exodus 30:23-25 specifies that Moses was to use 500 shekels of liquid myrrh as a core ingredient of the sacred anointing oil.
Myrrh was an ingredient of Ketoret: the consecrated incense used in the First and Second Temples at Jerusalem, as described in the Hebrew Bible and Talmud. An offering was made of the Ketoret on a special incense altar and was an important component of the temple service. Myrrh is also listed as an ingredient in the holy anointing oil used to anoint the tabernacle, high priests and kings.
Oil of myrrh is used in Esther 2:12 in a purification ritual for the new queen to King Ahasuerus:
Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women).
| When a tree's wound penetrates through the bark and into the sapwood, the tree secretes a resin. Myrrh gum, like frankincense, is such a resin. When people harvest myrrh, they wound the trees repeatedly to bleed them of the gum. Myrrh gum is waxy and coagulates quickly. After the harvest, the gum becomes hard and glossy. The gum is yellowish and may be either clear or opaque. It darkens deeply as it ages, and white streaks emerge.[2]
Thru out different bible versus myrrh has been used in different ways, here are just a few, from seduction from a women Proverbs 7:10-18 , given as one of the presents presented from the land Genesis 43:11, wine mixed with myrrh Mark 15:23 ,marketers selling their wears Genesis 37:25 – what makes this versus interesting to me is that it mentions how the sellers came from Gilead to Egypt to sell their wears, then in Jeremiah 8:22 it seems like the sick are being questioned but the balm mentioned is that out of Myrrh which would mean that myrrh would be for healing, would it not?, Jeremiah 46:11 – There is no healing because you have multiplied remedies, that you need to Gilead to obtain balm – does that mean there will be no healing for multiplied remedies and that we need to find balms that are the true recipe remedy from Gilead?
| Jeremiah 8:22
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored?
| Jeremiah 46:11
Go up to Gilead and obtain balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt! In vain have you multiplied remedies; There is no healing for you.
There are different states of myrrh used today such as liquid, gum, powder which is used as a antiseptic, the liquid state may be used in mouthwashes, gargles, and toothpastes, the powder state may be used in toothpowders, healing medications with other herbs.
| Myrrh is used in some liniments and healing salves that may be applied to abrasions and other minor skin ailments. Myrrh has been used as an analgesic for toothaches and can be used in liniment for bruises, aches, and sprains.[8]
| Myrrh gum is commonly claimed to remedy indigestion, ulcers, colds, cough, asthma, lung congestion, arthritis pain, and cancer.[9]
| In traditional Chinese medicine, myrrh is classified as bitter and spicy, with a neutral temperature. It is said to have special efficacy on the heart, liver, and spleen meridians as well as "blood-moving" powers to purge stagnant blood from the uterus. It is therefore recommended for rheumatic, arthritic, and circulatory problems, and for amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, menopause, and uterine tumours.
Myrrh's uses are similar to those of frankincense, with which it is often combined in decoctions, liniments, and incense. When used in concert, myrrh is "blood-moving" while frankincense moves the qi, making it more useful for arthritic conditions.
It is combined with such herbs as notoginseng, safflower petals, angelica sinensis, cinnamon, and salvia miltiorrhiza, usually in alcohol, and used both internally and externally.[10]
| Myrrh is used in Ayurveda and Unani medicine, which ascribe tonic and rejuvenative properties to the resin. It (daindhava) is used in many specially processed rasayana formulas in Ayurveda. However, non-rasayana myrrh is contraindicated when kidney dysfunction or stomach pain is apparent or for women who are pregnant or have excessive uterine bleeding.
A related species, called guggul in Ayurvedic medicine, is considered one of the best substances for the treatment of circulatory problems, nervous system disorders, and rheumatic complaints.[11][12]
| Song of Songs 4:6
"Until the cool of the day When the shadows flee away, I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh And to the hill of frankincense.
In the above versus song of songs 4:6 is it sharing the best conditions for growing myrrh and frankincense and when to collect, or is there an underlining message?
Frankincense
| Frankincense comes in many types, and its quality is based on color, purity, aroma, age, and shape. Silver and Hojari are generally considered the highest grades of frankincense.
Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) essential oil
Frankincense is often prepared inside a censer, such as the meerschaum dabqaad traditionally used in Somalia and Djibouti.
Frankincense has been traded on the Arabian Peninsula for more than 6,000 years.[17] [18] Its use was characteristic in religious rites throughout Mesopotamia and the Eastern Mediterranean from the earliest antiquity.
Frankincense is used in perfumery and aromatherapy. It is also an ingredient that is sometimes used in skincare. The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the dry resin. Some of the smells of the frankincense smoke are products of pyrolysis.[
| In Chinese medicine, it (ru xiang) along with myrrh (mo yao) have anti-bacterial properties as well as blood-moving uses. It can be used topically or orally. The Egyptians cleansed body cavities in the mummification process with frankincense and natron. In Persian medicine, it is used for diabetes, gastritis and stomach ulcer.[24]
Frankincense was used in offerings up to the Lord as a holy oil or as a incense there are a few versus on this topic but five really catch my interest which are Exodus 30:34-38, Jeremiah 6:20 , Isaiah 43:23 , Isaiah 66:3 , Leviticus 2:1-2 which can be read below, that Jeremiah 6:20 & Isaiah 66:3 sums it up that our offerings are not acceptable and our sacrifices are not pleasing to the Lord. Then there's versus Leviticus 2:15 , Leviticus 24:7 that mention the grain offering with oil and frankincense, in Leviticus 2:1-2 , Leviticus 2:15-16 , it mentions how a priest needs to offer up your grain offering with oil and frankincense thru the smoke, in Leviticus 5:11 , Numbers 5:15 they mention the way's the offering can be a sin offering for different actions/events.
| Exodus 30:34-38
The Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you. It shall be most holy for you. And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord. Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people.”
| Jeremiah 6:20
"For what purpose does frankincense come to Me from Sheba And the sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable And your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me."
| Isaiah 43:23
"You have not brought to Me the sheep of your burnt offerings, Nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices I have not burdened you with offerings, Nor wearied you with incense.
| Isaiah 66:3
"But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog's neck; He who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine's blood; He who burns incense is like the one who blesses an idol As they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations,
| Leviticus 2:1-2
'Now when anyone presents a grain offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour, and he shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it. 'He shall then bring it to Aaron's sons the priests; and shall take from it his handful of its fine flour and of its oil with all of its frankincense And the priest shall offer it up in smoke as its memorial portion on the altar, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the LORD.
The question still remains are the Three Wise Men's gifts still relevant today?
Would like to see your comments down below in the comment section of your own thoughts or encounters with these gifts, I think they are still relevant today but not in the way they were when they were given. As the knowledge about these gifts are not known by everyone nor to market sellers sell them in every market, but the story is not based all over the world as our commerce trade is now.
The uses for them are different also, as our knowledge for the bible is maybe not as widespread as it once was so does that make our knowledge for healing less also?
There are still healers that have passed on recipes for healing using myrrh, still reading so frankincense may come up also but finding these ingredients in the health stores has seemed a challenge but online they are available more easily.
Frankincense I have seen in incense burning sticks which are readily available in stores that sell that kind of thing.
Resources
https://www.openbible.info/topics
https://www.openbible.info/topics/three_wise_men
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrrh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankincense
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magi
Sorry for the long post, hope it was informative and helpful for you!
Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!
I'm not a medical profession in any way, this is not intended as medical advice please ask a professional for advice, as I'm only sharing my own personal journey and thoughts.
Thank you for stopping by really appreciate it, have a fabulous Day/Evening!
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