Primary 50 - Merry Christmas
We are so happy to know that you have the Savior as our friend and that we have a time we celebrate His birth. It's is truly a blessing that this simple event has been celebrated for not just tens or hundreds of years but thousands! And not just after His life but all of the life of man.
The Savior truly has changed the world; our world.
This Christmas take the time to reflect on our blessing that was given to us by the Savior. Reflect on the simplicity of the symbolism of His humble beginnings.
Manger - The Savior's life was thought of as the bread and water of life, so of course, shepherds would see the Choose One in such a vulnerable state, as an offering to feed the simple and nurish them as He does us.
Shepherd - Israel has been sons and daughters of a class of work that was hard since Abraham. When they (the children of Israel) came to Egypt, they declared their occupation and were sent to Goshen. They were good obedient people (Genesis 46:34, 47:3). The prophet Isaiah would prophesy thus,
Isaiah 40:11
"Like a shepherd, He will tend His flock,
In His arm, He will gather the lambs
And carry them in His bosom;
He will gently lead the nursing ewes."
Wise men - The Britannica (Britannica.com) says this...
"Magi, the singular Magus, also called Wise Men, in the Christian tradition, the noble pilgrims “from the East” who followed a miraculous guiding star to Bethlehem, where they paid homage to the infant Jesus as king of the Jews (Matthew 2:1–12). Christian theological tradition has always stressed that Gentiles, as well as Jews, came to worship Jesus—an event celebrated in the Eastern church at Christmas and the West at Epiphany (January 6). Eastern tradition sets the number of Magi at 12, but Western tradition sets their number at three, probably based on the three gifts of “gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11) presented to the infant."
It wasn't just Israel alone that expected His coming but the whole world.
Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh - All three gifts were precious, rare, and used for burial. That's right, the gifts given to the Christ child were a foreshadowing of his death and burial. Perhaps it was intentional perhaps not but all who would read the account hundreds of years later would see it. The Atonement encompassed Jesus' whole life; His birth, His rearing, His ministry, and above all His sacrifice and resurrection. In all aspects of His life, He has thought of us.
The Star - Some have theorized that the Eastern Star was a planetary conjunction that the wise men followed, while others say it is a current star in the heavens, however the importance of it's origin is of little consequence. The symbolism superceeds its the origin. Like the Northern Star in the heavens, we look to direct our lives and like a compass, we can plot our course as the wise men did. Looking to heaven for guidance, to the Savior, will help us keep a path, though strait (crooked and crazy), will lead us back to the Master that gave us His all so that we could have all too.
Again take some time to reflect on the Savior and His gift for you. We love you and wish you a wonderful Christmas season.
Again, take some time to reflect on the Savior and His gift for you. We love you guys. Thanks for spending a wonderful year in a class with us.
Very inspirational. I never thought of the 3 gifts as foreshadowing of his death: money used to purchase the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea, and the spices and incense used in his burial. Myrrh has an interesting description about how it is collected as a tree is wounded and bleeds.
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