TO HONOUR HIM

 

The scriptural account of the visit of the wise men to Jesus and His mother states that they fell down and worshipped Him and presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

The gifts that were given to Christ child were costly gifts that were by custom given to royalty but the Magi gave them to more than a king. Matthew records that ‘there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem’ asking ‘where is the child that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him’ (Matthew 2:2). However, the Joseph Smith Inspired Translation reads ‘where is the child that is born the Messiah of the Jews?’

Bruce R. McConkie noted the probability that the Magi were themselves Jews who lived, as millions of Jews then did, in one of the nations to the East. He went on to say that it was the Jews who were acquainted with the scriptures and the prophecies regarding Christ’s birth and that first witnesses of His birth were to come from the House of Israel and not from the Gentile nations (see Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah Book 1, 358)

If this is so, the gifts presented to Christ child were gifts fit not only for a King but for a God. Much has been written about these gifts by way of speculation but a close look reveals that these gifts might not have been given by chance and that the Magi were more in tune with the divine than we think. Consider just one of them, frankincense.

When Jehovah instructed Moses to make an holy anointing oil, He named specific sweet spices and instructed how they should be made with ‘pure frankincense’ and added: “Upon man’s flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it….it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you….whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people”. Instruction was also given for making of perfume with frankincense which was ‘holy for the Lord’ and not meant to be used for the congregation (Exodus 30: 37).

The mental and physical healing properties of the frankincense oil are well documented. It is best known for its ability to clear and focus the mind suggesting a spiritual quality to it. Today its price can range between $30.00 and $14,850. A gift fit for a god indeed…..for all the earth is His and everything in it!

My favourite Christmas song is The Little Drummer Boy. I don’t know how many tears I have shed listening to this song. What touches me most is that the little drummer boy had no gift to give to the King. Such a contrast to the wealthy Magi.

I was born and raised in a socialist country but in a strong Catholic community. Exchanging of gifts at Christmas was not a custom. There was no commercialism. The birth of Christ was revered in my childhood. Since I have lived in Australia, I have never figured out why we give each other gifts when we celebrate Christ’s birthday. Does it help us remember He is our greatest gift?

The Little Drummer Boy had no riches to give the King but he gave something of himself and it was accepted. Perhaps it would be more advantageous to give the Saviour something of ourselves this Christmas….such as an act of service, a missionary moment, a commitment to give up a weakness or a sin, to meaningfully partake of the Sacrament each Sunday, to express more love, to judge less, to be more merciful, to obey Him more, to love Him more, to strive to be like Him……after all, the best gift He would want would be ME and YOU.

We are worth far more than frankincense.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Holy Men by Liz Lemon Swindle)

THE DIVINE PLAN PART 2

 

 

The prophecy about Egypt is my favourite prophecy regarding the Saviour’s birth.

It is recorded in the book of Matthew that the wise men of the East came to Judea enquiring: “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2) but the Joseph Smith Translation states the question was: “Where is the child that is born the Messiah of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2a)

Imagine the mortal threat such a question was to Herod, the puppet king of Judah, installed by Caesar Augustus, without a drop of Jewish blood in him, whose only claim to the throne was his family’s conversion to the Jewish faith (see Bible Dictionary).

Had Jesus been born to be the King only, it would not have been such a threat because anyone can become a king, as Herod very well proved, but to be a Messiah meant more, much more, because a Messiah RESCUES and DELIVERS. And who would he rescue? The captive Jews.

This was a real threat to Herod, who was familiar with the Messianic prophecy, because if the Empire fell, so would his crown. He had only one solution: to dispose of the Jewish infants two years old and younger. Imagine the carnage that the Christ child had to be protected from. Hence the directive to Joseph to flee with his family. But why Egypt?

Egypt was a sacred memory of deliverance and freedom to every Hebrew in Israel. In their minds there was no greater miracle performed by God for His chosen people. And when the Messiah was born, the Hebrews were thirsty for deliverance from bondage once again.

Heralding the arrival of the Messiah, Hosea prophesied: “Out of Egypt have I called my son” (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:15). Whereas once He led them out of the bondage of oppression suffered at the hands of the Egyptians, this time the Messiah would likewise deliver them but from a different enemy.

He would deliver them from the master of sin. It was the bondage and freedom that mattered more than deliverance from Roman rule. This was a deliverance like no other and no other could bring it about but Jesus of Nazareth, born to be king.

As I contemplated about the divine plan of the Saviour’s birth a thought came to me how the enemy had a plan too. Whereas God’s plan was one of protection for the Christ child, Satan’s was one of destruction in his desire to dethrone Jesus as the Messiah and Saviour of the world, and he had just the person to do it, Herod, ‘the most fiendish and bloody occupant ever to sit on David’s throne’, the throne that rightly belonged to Jesus of Nazareth, ‘who would in due course reign in righteousness thereon’ (Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah Book 1, 362).

This is what stood out in my mind the most. Satan had a blood thirsty king on the throne of Judah at whose command infants, and anyone else he didn’t like, were disposed of, but God had someone even more powerful than the sword. He had a young couple whose greatest weapon was obedience.

Joseph and Mary listened to the guidance of heaven and they preserved the life of the most important man ever to be born on this earth. That the host of heaven also watched over the infant Christ is a certainty but the divine plan was made possible because of two human beings in lowly circumstances who were willing to travel to Egypt on a donkey!!!

Next time you feel you are insignificant, don’t……you have no idea who you truly are….

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Young Prince in Egypt by Rose Datoc Dall)

THE GIFT OF OVERCOMING

 

Have you ever experienced elation after overcoming a bad habit or weakness or sin just from the sheer victory that became yours? The Book of Revelation is a book of promises for those who overcome that takes elation to the next level for those who conquer. When John was commanded to write to the priesthood leaders of the seven churches of Asia Minor he detailed their good works, their intentions and their failings with such accuracy and transparency that it left them no doubt as to who was the originator of such messages. As the messages were given to John, the Saviour identified himself as the one who searches the desires, thoughts and hearts of men and sees all things (Revelation 2:23).

Consider the promises that were made to these seven churches, and ultimately to all of us, and imagine the elation at their fulfilment:

1.  “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life” (2:7) thus eradicating the effects of the Fall and granting eternal life to the faithful.
2. “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death” (2:11) sparing all eternal separation from the Father except those who refuse to repent. To the faithful He says: “I will give thee a crown of life” (2:10)
3.  “To him who overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna and will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written” (2:17): He alone is the ‘hidden manna’ and those who symbolically partake of His flesh will receive everlasting life (John 6:47-58) with entrance into celestial kingdom (D&C 130:8-11).
4. “He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give the morning star” (2:28): Being the firstborn among the host of heaven, the morning star is a symbol of Jesus Christ, the Second Comforter who manifests himself to men in the flesh and teaches them face to face.  (NT Institute Manual; Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 3:381).
5. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne” (3:21): To sit on His throne, means to receive exaltation in celestial worlds and reign with Him forever in everlasting glory (Bruce R. McConkie, The Purifying Power of Gethsemane, Ensign May 1985)
6. “He that overcometh shall inherit ALL things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son” (21:7)…..is there any explanation needed for this??? Being joint heirs with the Saviour of ALL the Father has defies any mortal imagination.

It must be noted that all the promises are for next life bar one which deals with the Second Comforter manifesting himself to men in this life. Why is that? Because what is to come after this life is of the greatest worth. It's what matters above all. We cannot presently comprehend the glory and the splendor of the blessings herein promised. One thing I do know, we once saw that glory and deemed it worthy of the work of overcoming. And here is proof: Satan lost himself forever in an effort to obtain it. This also I know: the splendor of eternal life for each of us was worth the condescension of a God who exchanged His throne for the stench of a stable. None of the promises could have been made without His Atonement but more so, without His birth. Surely there could not be a greater gift than the gift of that Bethlehem stable for what more could He offer us than Himself?

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Birth by Dan Burr)

 

Art: Birth by Dan Burr

TO THIS END WAS I BORN

 

We are about to celebrate Christmas. Whereas Christ’s humble and miraculous birth is at the forefront of our celebration, it is also a celebration of His death. When He said to Pilate: “To this end was I born” (John 18:37), He meant He was born that He might die, and He would die so that we might live. Where there is birth, there is always death, His being the most significant of all. Christ came to not only bear witness of the truth but to offer us the greatest gift of all the gifts of God, that gift being the gift of eternal life. 

 

I have contemplated the two facets of this gift: It is a gift from the Father because it cannot be earned. Because we could not earn it on our own merit, the Saviour has bought that gift and paid the price by His life. We could never qualify for this gift but we can qualify for the GIVING of the gift by Him in whose possession it now is, the qualification being the penitent heart. If we could ever qualify for that gift on our own, there would not have been a need for the Mediator who alone could pay the price. Another component of the gift is the Saviour’s sacrifice of His life. That’s the gift that makes the other gift possible. Since eternal life is both the gift of the Father and the Son, we can never say we earned it on our own, that it is our work and our effort that opened the gates of Celestial Kingdom. 

 

Many of us sacrifice of ourselves at Christmas time when we buy gifts for those we love. Some of us even go into debt to do so. Every Christmas I wish I could do more because I do so little. I reflect on Christ’s love and what it took for Him to give us the greatest gift He could possibly give. Such bravery, such commitment, such love, such mercy…..

 

The baby in the stable

So innocent and sweet,

On the altar of sacrifice 

Lay at the Father’s feet.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art by Jennifer Hickey)