Its that time of year where we think on the Biblical story of the birth of Jesus Christ. His birth had been foretold and the greatness of the event was not just made know to the Jews whose scriptures held the prophecy, God also put a sign in nature to let those who were looking see what was to come. This was done in the skies above, a star. Now as the story goes there were some men, scholars perhaps who saw this star and read it as a sign that a new king was to be born, we know this as before they found the child the star was leading them to, they went to the current king to worship his new born, but alas he had not had a child. What an amazing thing that these men used a star to guide them.
These men came bearing gifts, the bible doesn't actually tell us how many men came just that they brought three gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh. Why these three gifts? Of all the things in the world why would they chose these.
Gold would make the most sense to us today because gold is still the world wide currency with gold the child would be financially prepared for life. What parent wouldn't be pleased if someone gave their new born child the gift of cash?
Lets take a look at the other two gifts frankincense and myrrh.
Frankincense is the resin of the Boswellia tree and was used for making perfume and incense was highly valued and is believed to have been used as a currency and as valuable if not more valuable than gold around the time of Christs birth..
Historically it has been used for medicinal purposes throughout history with the gum being chewed to treat digestive ailments and to assist the immune system. Ancient Egyptian women charred frankincense and used it as their eyeliner and applied the crushed powder to the eyelids.
Personal care - frankincense was used in caring for the teeth and as a deodorant. The smoke from frankincense was used to keep away bugs.
Traditional medicinal uses included hypertension, nausea, indigestion, chesty coughs and post- childbirth recovery. Today frankincense is used to treat the skin, reduce age spots and generally as an anti-aging component of skin care products this is attributed to its ability to modulate the biological processes of inflammation and to be able to remodel the tissue of human skin.
The boswellic acids which are present in the resin have properties that produce anti-inflammatory actions. Thus having the potential to assist with conditions such as arthritis, bursitis and tendonitis.
Studies on mice have shown that burning frankincense released an constituent called incensole acetate which lowered anxiety and reduced depressive behaviour.
Myrrh is the resin from a number of trees of the species Commiphora and like frankincense it has a history of being used in perfumes, incenses and medicine.
Myrrh was used though out history in spiritual service, as an incense and as an oil in holy rituals and purification ceremonies. It was also used in the process of embalming as well as an antiseptic on wounds and a paste was created to help stop bleeding.
Myrrh is also used to address digestive issues, upper respiratory complaints and used as a mouth wash to treat mouth ulcers, bad breath and gingivitis.
Myrrh is being investigated for the treatment of cancers including cervical and prostrate cancers. it is known that myrrh helps with blood circulation and may assist in the prevention of tumor growth.
Studies on the use of myrrh oil on bacteria have shown it may be effective against some staph infections. It has also been noted that the synergy of myrrh and frankincense increase the antibacterial properties. Myrrh has also be found to have some anti-oxidant and anti-parasitic properties.
Skin care- Myrrh assists in treating skin conditions where skin or lips are chapped or cracked. The oil is used in cosmetics where its antioxidant, anti-aging, rejuvenation and would healing capacities are utilized.
If using either myrrh or frankincense on the skin place them in a carrier oil such as jojoba, almond or coconut oil.
Myrrh and frankincense were combined and burnt to create an environment suitable for meditation or prayer.
The bible doesn't tell us what these precious gifts these men who followed the star to find him were used for, whether his parents burnt them to increase his health and communication with God. Whether they were used to treat his aliments as he grew or whether they were kept until he entered into his ministry and used as an oil, we do not know.
What we do know is that of all the things on earth these were the three gifts that the baby Jesus was given and that they had the potential to provide him with health, wealth and spiritual wisdom. What a beautiful gift.
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