No One Understands Me - The Gift

Frankincense: Jesus Our Great High Priest

Scripture References

Primary text

• Matthew 2:10
• Hebrews 4:14-16
• Hebrews 10:10

Other references

• John 1:1

Overview

The magi’s gift of frankincense points to Jesus as our High Priest—the one who both offers the sacrifice and is the sacrifice. In this message Pastor Craig unpacks how the Old-Testament priesthood foreshadowed Christ, why His once-for-all offering satisfies God’s justice and extends mercy, and how His complete understanding of human weakness invites us to “come boldly” for help. The story moves from the nativity scene to the cross, from ancient temple rituals to everyday access to God’s throne.

Context

• Series launch: “The Gift”—three-week look at the magi’s gifts (gold, frankincense, myrrh).
• Wise men were educated, wealthy travelers who brought profoundly symbolic presents.
• Frankincense, a costly resin used for healing and for priestly incense, foreshadows Jesus’ priestly role.

Main Points

1. Three gifts, three revelations

• Gold → Jesus the King.
• Frankincense → Jesus the High Priest.
• Myrrh (next week) → Jesus the suffering servant / Lamb of God.

2. What priests did in Israel

• Represented the people before God.
  • Offered animal sacrifices for sin on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
  • Burned frankincense so smoke rose as a sign of the people’s prayers.
• Prayed on behalf of the nation.
• The system highlighted two realities: the holiness of God and the sinfulness of humanity.

3. The gap between God’s holiness and human sin

• “Holy” (hagios) = separate, other, flawless.
• Sin is not merely a mistake; it breaks intimacy with a perfectly holy God.
• Because God is just, sin must be punished; because He is merciful, He provides a substitute.

4. Old-covenant sacrifices: temporary and symbolic

• Illustration: The priest slaughtered an innocent animal, sprinkled blood on the mercy seat, and sent a “scapegoat” into the wilderness—an extreme, messy picture showing sin’s seriousness and the price of forgiveness.
• These sacrifices covered sin for a season but never removed it.

5. Jesus—the new and better sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10)

• As the sinless Son of God, He offered His own body “once for all time.”
• His blood satisfies justice and simultaneously extends mercy.

• Story: Pastor Craig’s ordination robe: his mentor removed Craig’s filthy choir robe and placed a clean priestly robe with a stripe over his shoulders—visualizing Christ covering believers with His righteousness.

6. Jesus—the sympathetic High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16)

• He experienced temptation, rejection, poverty, grief, family conflict, stress, and physical pain—yet never sinned.
• Because He “gets it,” believers can approach God with confidence, not fear or formality.

7. Bold access and present help

• “Come boldly” means bring every need: salvation for loved ones, financial strain, anxiety, sickness, exhaustion.
• At the throne we “receive mercy” and “find grace to help us when we need it most.”

8. Invitation to salvation

• God’s holiness + our sin = separation we cannot fix.
• Jesus, the final Lamb and eternal Priest, bridges the gap.
• Anyone who calls on His name is forgiven, clothed in righteousness, and given new life.

Key Truths

• Frankincense signals that Jesus is both priest and sacrifice.
• God’s justice demands payment for sin; His mercy provides the payment in Christ.
• Holiness is not one trait of God—it colors every trait.
• Because Jesus understands weakness from the inside, prayer can be raw and honest.
• The cross turns temporary coverings into permanent cleansing.

Response

• Acknowledge your sin instead of minimizing it.
• Thank Jesus for covering you with His righteousness.
• Bring specific needs to God this week—pray boldly, not timidly.
• Intercede by name for friends or family who are far from God.
• Rest in Christ’s empathy; reject the lie that He is distant or indifferent.

Closing

Frankincense reminds us that Christmas leads straight to the cross. The child in Bethlehem grew up to become the High Priest who laid Himself on the altar, forever opening the way to God. Because His sacrifice is complete and His sympathy is real, mercy and grace are always within reach. Come to the throne—today, tomorrow, and whenever you need help.

Prayer

Father, thank You for sending Jesus, our Great High Priest. Because His one sacrifice has made us holy, we confidently bring every weakness, fear, and failure to You. Pour out Your mercy and grace, heal what is broken, provide what is lacking, and draw those we love into Your salvation. We trust You and we worship You, in Jesus’ name.