Medicine as a baby gift for Jesus?

I’ve always been fascinated by the story of the three kings (magi) who left their comfy homes to trudge across dangerous foreign lands and deserts to bring the baby Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

But why these three gifts?

Today, we think of gold as precious, a good investment, but I don’t think the magi’s gifts were meant for investment purposes or resale.

I mean, from a practical standpoint, if Mary and Joseph were so financially strapped why not bring them camels, sheep, dates, nuts, silks, or give them land to assure the child’s future?

What was the reason for these specific items?  

In the Christian faith it’s been said that gold represents the kingship of Jesus (yet he, himself, was adamant that he was not a king), frankincense for his priestly role (and again, Jesus was of the Jewish faith and known for his role as a teacher, not priest), and myrrh to represent his death and embalming, but the shelf life of myrrh oil is around 9 years.

Hmm. If I were Mary, I’m not sure I would appreciate someone giving me myrrh as a gift for my newborn. Is it possible these gifts, considered precious in the day of Jesus, might have been chosen for more practical, useful reasons? Not just symbolic?

Maybe. Why not?

What I do know about gold, frankincense, and myrrh is they were used as powerful healing agents thousands of years before the birth of Jesus.

According to Medical News Today, gold is still used to treat some cancers. And gold salts have anti-inflammatory properties when used to treat arthritis.

Frankincense reduces inflammation. I can attest to this fact. When my hands cramp up in the mornings, I rub on frankincense oil and the pain goes away. But it is also a disinfectant, antioxidant, and antimicrobial. A few drops in a warm bath is effective for relaxing mind and body. It also helps with indigestion and IBS.

Myrrh is known as an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-viral, antiseptic, and an astringent. It’s used in many mouthwashes and toothpastes. Current studies have also proven that a mixture of frankincense and myrrh was successful in relieving neuropathic pain in mice.

(As an aside, I did come across some interesting research that suggests a mistake was made in the translation of the gospel from Aramaic. It claims the gift of gold was not metal but the “gold of the East,” which is the spice called turmeric. Makes sense as turmeric is the color of gold and has tremendous healing properties in alignment with frankincense and myrrh.)  

My guess is the parents of Jesus would appreciate these expensive medicines that they may not have been able to afford, especially during his teething years, childhood bacterial illnesses, and for all the regular scrapes an active child may get into.

I know I would. But I’m practical. The magi just might have wanted to honor the divine nature of Jesus AND increase his chances of living in order to become the great teacher, brother, and role model he is for us today.  

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones. May you enjoy this season of Light and its many high-vibe healing benefits.

And as always, I’m available for private sessions if you need deeper understanding, support, or guidance in the form of energy work or intuitive life coaching. Click this link to schedule.