It Starts Small

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Scripture Reading:

• Matthew 2:11
• Mark 15:22-23
• John 19:38-40
• Revelation 13:8
• Romans 6:23

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¹¹ Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and
Presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:11

Jesus was bestowed with a magnificent gift of gold, a powerful symbol of His divine Kingship. Alongside this treasure, the wise men presented frankincense, acknowledging His exalted role as the Highest Priest. Yet, it is the gift of myrrh that captivates our hearts. This precious resin is harvested from the venerable Commiphora trees, particularly Commiphora myrrha. These trees thrive in the unforgiving landscapes of northeastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Harvesting myrrh is a labor of love. Experts skillfully make incisions in the bark. This allows the aromatic sap to flow and crystallize. The resulting substance can be burned or preserved as a liquid. What makes myrrh distinct from frankincense are its remarkable medicinal properties. Its delightfully pleasant aroma invites us to appreciate its beauty and significance.

Myrrh, when blended with a rich liquid—often the finest wine because it was a very bitter substance—acts as a powerful sedative. It wraps those who partake in its soothing embrace. Its application goes beyond mere healing. It lovingly cradles wounds. It also delicately graces corpses. It slows the inevitable march of decomposition with reverent care. This extraordinary gift shines brightly. It stands shoulder to shoulder with the treasures of gold and frankincense. This is a testament to its profound significance.

²² They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull). ²³ They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.

Mark 15:22-23

As Jesus was being crucified, they tried to ease His suffering by offering Him a sedative by mixing myrrh and wine together, but He refused. He refused to lessen the severity of pain and punishment for our sin. It is not coincidence that this detail is given given as Jesus was suffering and dying on the cross. Yet, there’s another mention of myrrh during this time we can not miss.

³⁸ After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’s body. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and took his body away. ³⁹ Nicodemus (who had previously come to him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes. ⁴⁰ They took Jesus’s body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews.

John 19:38-40
(Bold for emphasis)

Jesus was offered myrrh on the cross. His lifeless body was lovingly anointed with myrrh as He was laid to rest in the sacred tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. These poignant details are imbued with profound significance. God wants us to see myrrh at the cross. He also wants us to see myrrh at the tomb. This highlights myrrh’s essential role in Jesus’s death and burial narrative.

Now, let us transport ourselves back in time, to the very cradle of Christ’s life! Can you sense the profound significance of this incredible gift? If gold symbolizes His Kingship and frankincense points to His divine priesthood, then what does myrrh reveal? It stunningly anticipates His suffering, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice He would make—our sacrificial lamb for our sins!

Even as a toddler, it was profoundly understood by God and the wise men that Jesus was destined to die for our sins. This truth reaches back even further! Before the dawn of creation, in the depths of His omniscience, God foresaw our sins and the desperate need for salvation. In the eternal dance of the Godhead, the Son emerged as our sacrificial lamb, slain before the very foundations of the world were laid (Revelation 13:8)!

So this made myrrh an appropriate gift.

We must take a heartfelt moment when we immerse ourselves in the Christmas story. We need to contemplate the significance of the wise men presenting myrrh to Jesus. This gift is a profound symbol, inviting us to reflect on its meaning. God bestowed the ultimate gift upon humanity. It was the very life of God’s Son, who, in divine love, willingly sacrificed Himself on the cross. His sacrifice paved the way for our liberation from the grave weight of sin!

²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

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