First Christmas Project
…is a company devoted to celebrating Jesus and introducing Him to non Christians by sharing the story of Jesus through the object lessons of the original three Christmas gifts:
Gold
Says us He is a King.
Frankincense
An incense, points to Him as a Priest (and also suggests His divinity).
Myrrh
A burial spice (John 19:39), foreshadows His role as our Sacrifice.
How we began
In the fall of 2001, I (Bruce Thomas) went on a weekend getaway with my wife, Santhi. We happened upon an antique shop where I saw frankincense and myrrh mixed together in a small glass vial. “How fascinating,” I thought “I’ve heard of this all my life but never seen it before.” That would have been the extent of this story had it not been for Santhi who is in all ways wiser and better than I. She said, “Buy it and give it away to the other deacons at church.” Initially I resisted but thought, “Santhi is always right about things like this. I am always wrong. I will listen to her.” I went to counter to ask which one was frankincense and which one was myrrh. The girl at the counter didn’t know so she called her manager. Finally he was able to explain which was which and we bought it from him in a larger quantity than we’d seen on the shelf.
Later that week I remembered a sermon by our pastor in which he’d explained the significance of gold, frankincense, and myrrh as symbols as to the identity of Jesus. What had been such a revelation to me was myrrh. Myrrh was a burial spice. Why would someone give a burial spice to a healthy baby? That would be like giving a new mom formaldehyde. It doesn’t make sense until you understand the identity of Jesus as our Sacrifice.
I had been a Christian over 20 years and had never known this. The more we thought about this, the more we realized that there were likely lots of people especially ones that didn’t know Jesus who likely didn’t know this either. And these would be people who’s lives are radically altered every year with Christmas, who rush about giving gifts not knowing in all their business what the original of this tradition really means and how it points to the most important story of our lives.
That year I found some little wooden boxes at Michael’s, stained them and filled them with gold chain fragments as well as frankincense and myrrh along with an explanation of the significance of these elements and how they related to the gospel. It found its way into the hands of 40 people at a Christmas party, in our neighborhood or leaders in church. We realized, however, that this could be an evangelism tool that could affect thousands or even millions in a culture that was quick to acknowledge Christmas to fuzzy on who Jesus really is.
We call ourselves First Christmas Project because there’s an obvious connection to Christmas and specifically to the First Christmas when the wise men gave those gifts. “Project” comes because like Jesus Film Project we hope to tell the story to as many as possible with these tools.
Where we’re going
Since then, we’ve developed the First Christmas Present into a much finer wooden box and have begun to branch out into developing other products which also tell the story through gold, frankincense and myrrh. See www.originalbirthdaypresent.com. With God’s help through you, we hope to share the story with multitudes through this object lesson.
Many evangelists tell the story in churches and on TV and in tracts. We feel that First Christmas Project has a special place, however, because it is a tool that puts the task in your hands with the help of the Holy Spirit.
For many nowadays our story will only be heard in the context of a relationship. People don’t care about what we know until they know that we care. When you give someone you already know a gift that’s different than a TV preacher who talks to a camera. Further, a gift opens the way for the giver. It can even usher you into the presence of the great (Proverbs 18:16).
Recall also that in Matthew 26 when a woman came to anoint Jesus with an alabaster jar over expensive perfume. The disciples criticized her for this apparent waste, but Jesus defended her saying that it was a beautiful thing, and that this ointment was in preparation for His burial. Further, He said that wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world this story will be told in memory of her (Matthew 26:13).
Do you know what the perfume (ointment KJV) was? This story occurs in all 4 gospels (Matt 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; Luke 7:37-38; John 12:1-8). In each account the word used is muron (ìõñïí) which is defined in the Greek dictionary of Strong’s Concordance as “myrrh, i.e. by implication perfumed oil, ointment.” In giving the First Christmas Present you will, in a small way, celebrate Jesus as this woman did and fulfill His prophecy that her story also would be told wherever the gospel is preached.
