A Year with Jesus

Note from Jesus

Dear Friend,

Can you remember your Christmas gifts from last year? ... five years ago? ... ten years ago? You probably don't remember most of your gifts over the years, unless you thought they were extravagant gifts or were gifts with some special connection to the giver.

There were three gifts - gold, frankincense, and myrrh - that were given to Me at My birth by the magi. These gifts have been remembered throughout the centuries. They were extravagant gifts - because of their value, because of the great effort required for the magi to bring them, and because they were presented with heartfelt worship.

Toward the end of My earthly ministry, I was given another extravagant gift to prepare Me for My suffering - a woman came into the house of Simon the Leper, in Bethany, and anointed My head with an expensive and precious ointment containing pure nard. She was criticized for the waste of her extravagance. But her gift was not wasted! Her gift is still precious to Me.

The gifts of the magi and the woman are responses to God's most extravagant gift - sending Me to redeem them!

Verses to Live

The magi's extravagant gifts were given at My birth:

The wise men left Herod's chambers and went on their way. The star they had first seen in the East reappeared - a miracle that, of course, overjoyed and enraptured the wise men. The star led them to the house where Jesus lay; and as soon as the wise men arrived, they saw Him with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. They unpacked their satchels and gave Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
(Matthew 2:9-11)

The woman's extravagant gift was given at the end of My ministry, preparing Me for My burial:

The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away. The Jewish leaders - the chief priests and the scribes - gathered to discuss how they might secretly arrest Jesus and kill Him.

Jewish Leaders:
We can't do it during the festivals. It might create an uproar.
While Jesus was eating dinner in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came into the house carrying an alabaster flask filled with a precious, sweet-smelling ointment made from spikenard. She came to Jesus, broke the jar, and gently poured out the perfume onto His head.

Some of those around the table were troubled by this and grumbled to each other.

Dinner Guests:
Why did she waste this precious ointment? We could have sold this ointment for almost a year's wages, and the money could have gone to the poor!
Their private concerns turned to public criticism against her.

Jesus:
Leave her alone. Why are you attacking her? She has done a good thing. The poor will always be with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you want. But I won't always be with you. She has done what she could for Me - she has come to anoint My body and prepare it for burial. Believe Me when I tell you that this act of hers will be told in her honor as long as there are people who tell the good news.
(Mark 14:1-9)

All true giving should be in response to God's gracious gifts - especially His greatest gift - given to you!

Praise God for this incredible, unbelievable, indescribable gift.
(2 Corinthians 9:15)

Response in Prayer

Thank You God for Your extravagant gift of Jesus. May my life reflect Your generosity in the way I treat others and share the gifts You have shared with me. In Jesus' name. Amen.