The Gift That Speaks: Frankincense

I love a baby shower. The soft colors, the tiny clothes hung like decorations, the laughter circling around a room filled with anticipation. I love the way everyone leans in—passing around ultrasound photos, guessing due dates, and debating over which characteristics the new parents will pass down to their little one. There’s something sacred and beautiful in those moments. Something that says, “We see this new life, and we honor what’s coming.”

I’m actually going to a baby shower for a good friend this weekend! In the days leading up to her party, it’s struck me how deeply gifts speak. We bring soft blankets, tiny onesies, diaper bags, and bottles, everything falling somewhere on a scale from practical and sentimental. These gifts are more than objects—we choose them with care because they reflect our hopes for the new life we’re celebrating.

And suddenly, I couldn’t help but think about another baby, another celebration, another set of gifts.

In the Christmas story, the gifts of the wise men almost feel like footnotes—a small detail tucked into the nativity scene between shepherds and swaddling cloths. We read about the star, the journey, the manager, and then, almost in the margins, we find gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

But these gifts weren’t random tokens of honor. They were prophetic declarations. Before Jesus ever spoke a word or a took His first steps, before He healed a body or calmed a storm, these gifts laid at His feet were already speaking. They were telling the story of who He was, who He is, and who He would one day become for us.

Matthew tells the story:

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship Him.”…When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and hey bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and present him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

— Matthew 2:1-2, 10-11

These men—Gentiles, and outsiders—recognized who Jesus was long before any of His own people would. Their journey began with a star but ended with a revelation: The Messiah had come not only for the people of Israel, but for the entire world.

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Each one carries layers of historical significance, prophetic symbolism, and personal application for believers today. The first gift we’ll explore is frankincense: the gift for a Priest.

Frankincense is a resin from the Boswellia tree, harvested by cutting into the bark and letting the fragrant sap drip and solidify into pearl-like droplets. In the ancient world, it was incredibly valuable, costly, and sacred.

Frankincense was part of temple worship. In Exodus 30:34, God gave Moses the recipe for the incense that would be used by priests. It wasn’t some common perfume or household air freshener. It was holy—set apart for kings, priests, and sacred rituals. Every morning and evening, priests burned this incense on the altar. The rising smoke became a symbol of the Israelites’ prayers ascending toward heaven. It represented worship, holiness, and the nearness of God. Lingering in the spicy fragrance was the whisper of a world far beyond this one.

Frankincense wasn’t just pleasant—it was healing. In biblical times, it could help sooth inflammation, ease illness, and purify the environment. People associated its warm scent with cleansing and restoration.

Priests would also offer incense during sacrifices. Their job was to stand in the gap between God and the people—mediating and interceding for humanity before God.

So when the wise men placed frankincense before Jesus, they were prophetically declaring something breathtaking: This child is the true Priest who will bring heaven and earth together.

Jesus wouldn’t just grow up to perform priestly duties. He would embody the priesthood in its fullness. He would grow up to become the bridge we could never build ourselves.

Under the old covenant, priests would continually offer sacrifices to cover the sins of the Israelites. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to intercede on behalf of God’s people (Leviticus 16). But even then, the atonement was temporary and imperfect. A mere shadow of something much greater.

Jesus, our perfect High Priest, changed everything.

He sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself.

—Hebrews 7:23-27

No more repeated sacrifices. No more fragile atonement. No more distance.

Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover lamb (Exodus 12)! But He did more than save Israel—He came for every tribe, every nation, every person, every aching heart in the world. Because of Him, we no longer need a priest to mediate for us. We have direct, unfiltered access to our Heavenly Father.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

—Hebrews 4:14-16

For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

—Ephesians 2:18

The veil has been torn.

The way is open.

His Presence welcomes us in.

John 1:18 says, “He has made Him known.” The Greek word used there (“exegesato”) means to unfold, reveal, or explain fully. Jesus wasn’t like the old priests who just talked about God. He revealed Him. To know Jesus is to know God Himself. Every word He spoke revealed the Father’s heart. Every miracle displayed demonstrated the Father’s compassion. Every moment of His life showed us exactly what God is like. We no longer have to guess. In Christ’s incarnation, God has stepped into human visibility.

The wise men’s gift of frankincense reminds us of holiness—of the God who is set apart, glorious, and worthy of our awe and worship. If we lose sight of His holiness, we can start to approach sin casually. We may treat grace as cheap instead of costly. Frankincense calls us back.

If frankincense reveals Jesus as our High Priest, myrrh reveals Him as our Sacrifice. Next week in Part 2, we’ll explore how the bitterness of myrrh points to the suffering Savior—and the beautiful hope hidden in His wounds.

Father, thank You for sending Jesus, our perfect High Priest. Thank You that through Him, we have personal access to Your presence, not just once a year, not just from afar, but daily and intimately. Teach us to remember and honor Your holiness. Let our lives rise like incense before You—pure, pleasing, and surrendered. As we reflect on the gift of frankincense, draw us closer to the heart of Jesus who reveals You fully, loves us completely, and invites us boldly into Your presence. Amen.