Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

Have you seen the Jesus/Alien/Chocolate reel? There are so many versions, but basically a human and an alien are talking and the human asks "do you know Jesus?" And the alien is like, "Jesus! Ahh yeah we love him! He swings by twice a year!" And the human is like, "whaaaaat?! We've been waiting like 2 millenia for the second coming!" And the alien supposes, "maybe he doesn't like your chocolate?" "What's this about chocolate?" asks the human. "Well, we gather all of our best chocolate and give it to him when he visits," says the alien, "why, what did you give him?" And the human is suddenly horrified.

And it's a funny little script but it points out that humanity was not nice to Jesus. From his baby beginnings, Herod tried to have him killed. 

The wise men brought him gold, frankincense, and myrrh as a welcome gift; the women who followed him brought him oil and spices when he died. 

Off the top of my head, I could think of only 2 other gifts he was given - the woman who anointed his feet with the perfume from an alabaster box, and the boy who gave his 2 little fishes and 5 loaves of bread to Jesus, which he used to feed the 5000 hungry people.

And I wondered what Jesus would want for Christmas. If he was staying here, what would I put under the tree for him? 

And I found the answer in the book of Matthew chapter 25. 'For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Did you see it, there at the end? 

As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. Kindness, to anyone, is a gift to Jesus. This is gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

I see so much of your love and kindness, friends. Meals made and clothes given, comfort and welcome and tenderness, sympathy and care in hard times. Maybe nobody saw you give, and maybe it was a quick moment long past, and you don't even remember it yourself. He receives it like you offered it to him, and he knows.

Gold, frankincense, myrrh.

Merry Christmas, you beauties. I love ya.

[For the curious, I prowled through the book of Luke to see what Jesus was given in his life on earth.

These are the things that Luke records Jesus receiving:

-questions (all through the book)

-baptism (Luke 3)

-praise from God (Luke 3)

-temptation (Luke 4)

-a paralyzed man (Luke 5)

-a feast from Levi (Luke 5)

-criticism (Luke 6)

-disciples (Luke 6)

-doubts (Luke 7)

-the anointing by the woman with the alabaster box (Luke 7)

-the provision of wealthy women (Luke 8)

-a meal at a Pharisee's house (Luke 11)

-sinners (Luke 15)

-ridicule (Luke 16)

-thanks, from only one leper (Luke 17)

-children, when his disciples thought they weren't important enough (Luke 18)

-a blind beggar (Luke 18)

-praise (Luke 19)

-wine and bread (Luke 22)

-an angel, bringing him strength (Luke 22)

-beatings (Luke 22)

-accusations (Luke 23)

-mockery and contempt (Luke 23)

-request from the thief on the cross (Luke 23)

-linen cloths and a tomb (Luke 23)

-food (Luke 24)]