Each year at Christmas we see signs of the season—winter symbols such as reindeer, snowmen, and Christmas trees decking the halls and adorning the malls. But amidst the world’s holiday celebration, we also see signs of Christmas: angels, manger scenes, and wise men worshiping the baby, Jesus.

Because the wise men worshiped Jesus and honored Him by giving Him gifts, let's study the importance of gifts, namely the Gift of Jesus, and see why Jesus is the perfect Gift. Let’s begin by reading the passage of scripture about Jesus’ birth and the wise men’s journey to see Him.

MATTHEW 2:1–3, 9–11 (NIV)
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi [wise men] from the east came to Jerusalem
2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. . . .
9 After they had heard the king, [the wise men] went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11 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 and of incense and of myrrh.

At Christmastime, we often see wise men depicted in the manger scene presenting their gifts to the baby Jesus.

Gifts are important, and the gifts given to Jesus were also important. Jesus was given gold, frankincense, and myrrh. According to tradition, gold was given to the infant King as a token of His royalty. Frankincense, a fragrant incense used in sacrificial offerings, was meant to represent Jesus’ deity. Myrrh, a perfume or ointment, was a token of His future suffering.

During the Christmas season, we all think about the gifts we want to buy for friends and family. We try to find that “perfect gift.” It’s been said that a gift must meet three criteria for it to be considered “perfect.” Number one, the gift should reflect the one who gives it. Number two, the gift should reflect knowledge of the one who receives it—in other words, knowledge of their needs, desires, tastes, and so forth. And number three, the gift should be of a nature and quality that will hold its value as time goes on.

We know God gave mankind the perfect Gift when He sent His Son Jesus. The Gift of Jesus meets all of the criteria for being a perfect gift. Number one, Jesus reflects the One Who gave Him—God the Father. Number two, God’s gift of His Son reflects knowledge of our needs. And number three, the Gift of Jesus is of a nature and quality that will hold its value as times goes on. Jesus’ value is eternal! John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (NIV). God gave us the perfect Gift when He gave us Jesus!