What three kings gave to Jesus, the King of kings

This is the time of year that the story is retold of the Magi, the three kings who presented the Holy infant with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. As a child, I wondered in passing about the significance of these gifts and what their uses were.  

As I grow older and have the yearly opportunity to revisit “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” the focus is on the meaning and uses for these precious spices and their relevance to that time in history, as well as how to use them today.

I would hazard a guess that the gold came in handy for a family fleeing to Egypt, but the spices? The gifts of frankincense and myrrh are often inadequately explained by scholars as expensive spices that could be used to finance their trip to Egypt and beyond. Were the gifts instead implying honor and status? Or, were Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar being practical, even medicinal, in these offerings? 

Both frankincense and myrrh are aromatic spices derived from tree resin. Neither decay, and both are antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiparasitic. The sap from the Middle Eastern trees from which the resin is taken was used much like a bandage. The medicinal value of frankincense includes the treatment of tumors, ulcers, respiratory ailments, and one of the most feared diseases in Jesus’ time, leprosy.  

Frankincense has also been shown to help relieve pain and inflammation of joints and muscles. Several products developed for arthritis contain frankincense, which is listed under its botanical genus name in Latin, Boswellia. Other studies have found frankincense to increase leukocyte activity, which helps the immune system fight infection. 

Frankincense can help remove phlegm in bronchial tissue and reduce inflammation in the nasal passages. As a home remedy to reduce inflammation, you can add the essential oil to a diffuser or vaporizer or rub a few drops on the chest. For young children and those with sensitive skin, it is recommended to dilute the essential oil with olive, avocado, or coconut oil.

Myrrh also assists in healing and reduces the chance of infection due to its antimicrobial action. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic in nature, it was and still is used on people, and as a liniment for horses, cows, and other livestock. Additionally, it was used to preserve wine in Jesus’ time. 

Other historical uses, besides embalming, were as a religious ceremonial oil, to make cosmetics, to improve digestion, and to treat gum problems. Myrrh has been used in dental clinics in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain for gum disease, loose teeth, periodontitis, cold sores, cavities, and many kinds of dental problems. It is recommended as a gargle or mouthwash for a sore throat, and can be used to treat athlete’s foot. 

Should you choose to experiment with these ancient essential oils, prioritize purity and quality. They can be used topically with a carrier oil, as well as diffused into the air, but they can be toxic if consumed orally.  

Mary may have known of the practical use of myrrh powder on the umbilical stump of newborns to speed up healing and to prevent infection, a most welcome gift at that appropriate time! It is still used by some modern-day midwives.

In addition to the honor and status implied by the value of the gifts of the magi, scholars think that the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were chosen for their special spiritual symbolism about Jesus himself, with gold representing his kingship, frankincense a symbol of his priestly role, and myrrh a precursor of his death and embalming. This interpretation was made popular in the well-known Christmas carol “We Three Kings.”