The Gifts of the Magi: Worshipping Jesus this Christmas Season

“We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar.”

These familiar words from the beloved Christmas carol capture one of Scripture’s most profound moments. The Magi’s journey was historical, and it was also prophetic. In fact, as followers of Jesus, we can use this scripture story as instruction on how we approach God in worship this Christmas Season.
Prophetic Shadows in the Old Testament

Long before the star appeared over Bethlehem, the prophets envisioned this moment. The Psalmist declared, “May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him; may the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts. May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him” (Psalm 72:10-11). Isaiah echoed this vision: “Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD” (Isaiah 60:6).
These weren’t random predictions. God was painting a picture of worship that transcended Israel’s borders—gentile kings would recognize the true King and bring their treasures. The Magi’s arrival fulfilled these ancient words, demonstrating that Christ came for all nations, all peoples—all who would seek Him.

When Did the Magi Arrive?

Most nativity scenes show the three Kings or Magi in the stable presenting their gifts to the newborn King, but that is not scripturally accurate. The Magi were not in the stable on the night of Jesus’ birth. The only ones present other than Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and the animals in the stables with them, were angels and shepherds. The first gospel of the new testament makes this very clear in Matthew 2:10-11:

“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

The Magi were diverted from their mission by King Herod, who made them promise to reveal the baby’s location and then sent them on their way. Scripture is clear that they came to the house where the child was. Many commentaries estimate that Jesus was about six months old when the three Kings worshipped him and presented their gifts before Him. These weren’t ordinary gifts.

Gold: Acknowledging Christ’s Kingship

“Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, gold I bring to crown Him again.”

Gold has always symbolized royalty, wealth, and sovereign power. When the Magi presented gold, they acknowledged what Herod feared and what the world would eventually confess: this child is King, not of Israel alone, but of the whole earth, and the entire universe.

Yet Jesus arrived in humility, born in a stable rather than a palace. His kingdom operates on different principles—servanthood over domination, sacrifice over self-preservation, love over law. The gold reminds us that He is the King of kings, worthy of our ultimate allegiance.
Today, we bring our “gold” when we surrender our lives to His lordship. We acknowledge Him as King when we submit our decisions to His wisdom, our resources to His purposes, our wills to His commands. This isn’t burdensome submission—it’s the freedom of living under the reign of a perfectly good and loving King.

Frankincense: Recognizing the Holy Spirit Within

“Frankincense to offer have I; incense owns a Deity nigh.”

Frankincense was the incense of the temple, rising like prayers before God’s throne. Its presence in worship acknowledged God’s holiness, and His transcendence. When the Magi presented it to the Christ child, they were acknowledging that Deity had arrived. The incarnation bridged an impossible gap. The infinite became finite. The eternal entered time. Emmanuel (God with us), wasn’t a metaphor, but a reality wrapped in swaddling clothes.

This same Spirit who overshadowed Mary now dwells within every believer. We are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), carriers of His divine presence. The frankincense reminds us that worship isn’t about reaching toward a distant deity but recognizing the Holy Spirit IS within—guiding, convicting, comforting, empowering us.

We bring our “frankincense” through prayer, through cultivating sensitivity to the Spirit’s voice, through allowing Him to transform us from the inside out. Reverent worship acknowledges that we stand on holy ground not because of sacred buildings, but because God Himself resides within us and His presence surrounds us.

Myrrh: Embracing Christ as Savior

“Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom; sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb.”
Of all the gifts, myrrh seems the strangest for a baby. This burial spice foreshadowed the cross, the tomb, the sacrifice that would define Jesus’s mission. Even in His infancy, His atoning sacrifice for mankind cast its shadow forward.

Myrrh represents the bitterness of sin and the costliness of redemption. It reminds us that our salvation wasn’t cheap—it required blood, suffering, and sacrifice (death). The King who received gold would wear a crown of thorns. The Deity who received frankincense would cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The infant who received myrrh would be anointed with it again as His lifeless body was prepared for burial.

But the tomb couldn’t hold Him. The myrrh that accompanied His death also witnessed His resurrection. He is not just a King to obey or a Spirit to acknowledge—He is the Savior who redeemed us, the Lamb who was slain and now sits beside the Father waiting for the order to return.
We bring our “myrrh” when we embrace the cross, when we acknowledge our desperate need for a Savior, and when we die to ourselves so Christ can live through us. We bring it when we remember His sacrifice through communion, when we share in His sufferings, when we carry our own crosses daily.

Bringing Our Worship Today

“Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and Sacrifice.”
The Magi’s example challenges our modern worship. They traveled far, risked much, and brought their best. Their worship was costly, intentional, and reverent. They didn’t approach the King casually or presumptuously—they bowed in adoration.

How do we bring reverent worship to God today?
First, we acknowledge His kingship by surrendering every area of our lives: our careers, relationships, finances, and dreams to His lordship. We can’t compartmentalize Jesus, giving Him Sunday mornings while ruling our own lives (kingdoms) the rest of the week. True worship crowns Him King over everything.

Second, we recognize the Holy Spirit within by cultivating spiritual sensitivity. We pray without ceasing, we study Scripture expectantly, we obey His promptings, we develop the fruit of the Spirit. We treat our bodies as temples, understanding that how we live either honors or grieves the Spirit dwelling within us. We are mindful not to pray only for our needs, but more importantly for the needs of others. We must be very vigilant that our prayers do not become completely self focused. We are dying to self so that HIs spirit may flow through us to others.

Third, we embrace Him as Savior by living in light of the cross. We remember that we were bought with a price. We extend grace because we’ve received grace. We take up our crosses daily, understanding that following Christ means surrendering to Him. We share the gospel because we know others need the Savior too.

Worship That Costs Something

The Magi’s gifts were valuable—they cost something. True worship always does. It costs our pride when we bow before the King. It costs our autonomy when we yield to the Spirit. It costs our self-righteousness when we accept salvation through Christ alone.

But what we receive in return is infinitely greater: a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, the presence of God Himself dwelling within us, and eternal life through our Savior.

Our Journey to Bethlehem
“O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright, westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.”

Like the Magi, we’re all on a journey to Bethlehem—to the place where we encounter Christ as He truly is. We come bearing our gifts: our gold of surrender, our frankincense of worship, our myrrh of brokenness. We come acknowledging Him as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, as the Holy Spirit within, and as the Savior who redeemed us.

This Christmas, let’s bring our best to King Jesus. Let’s worship with reverence and awe. Let’s bow before the One who is worthy of all our honor, glory, and praise.