‘Meekness and majesty’…a child and a king! This mysterious combination of traits in one person, the God-man, is what the Magi came to witness. Though he was the Prince of Heaven, he had become poor. Though he was the Mighty God, he had become helpless baby. This King had not come to be the boss. He had come to be a servant, even more to die. Matthew records that the magi from the East worshipped the child when they saw him and then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts – gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This blog post focusses on the gift of myrrh brought by the wisemen. Although God does not need human gifts (for he cannot be served by human hands nor could he be bribed), it is the giver’s desire to show how wonderful the person is and delighting in him for who he is.
The Preciousness of Myrrh
Myrrh is a precious resin used in medicine, perfumery, and incenses. It has innumerable medicinal uses. A simple glance into WebMD reveals the value of this medicinal resin. In the Old Testament, there were several instances of the usage of myrrh – it was sent by Jacob to be gifted to Joseph while he was in Egypt (Gen. 43:11). Myrrh was used in the making of anointing oil and the incense used in the tabernacle (Ex. 30:22). This precious resin was gifted to Solomon when kings came to visit him to seek his wisdom (1 King 10:25). Elsewhere, myrrh is described for its perfuming quality and diffusing fragrance (Esther 2:12; Ps. 45:8; Prov. 7:17; Song of Songs 1:13). It is understandable that the wisemen were very thoughtful when they chose myrrh as their present to the newborn king.
The Symbolism in the gift of myrrh
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh are clearly luxury gifts fit for a king. These gifts, however, have a symbolism discerned traditionally even from the time of Irenaeus – gold for royalty, frankincense for divinity and myrrh for death and burial. The tradition had rightly done this interpretation based on John 19:39 (especially in case of myrrh). Myrrh, however, is an odd choice for a family with a newborn baby. Embalming liquid will never top lists of baby shower gifts. Though myrrh is the oddest gift, it points to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This element was given to Jesus here at the beginning of life as well as at the end of his life when he was hanging on the cross (Mark 15:23) and for his burrial in tomb (John 19:39). We could draw from the gospel narratives that myrrh was presented to Jesus at his birth as a symbolic representation of his humanity and future crucifixion.
The Gospel in the gift of myrrh
The Magi presented the gospel in a tangible way, whether they understood it or not. They have declared that Jesus is the king who have come down from heaven (gold), to fulfill the priestly duties (frankincense), and died for our sins (myrrh). Jesus’ birth cannot be separated from his death, burial, and resurrection. If the nativity accounts are observed deeply, they present Jesus’ role as atoning savior and redeemer.
Christmas is all about Gospel. God sent his Son into this world in human flesh to die for the sinners. Have you repented of your sins and put your trust in this perfect savior, Lord Jesus Christ? If you have already believed in the gospel, this should motivate you to ponder and worship the Lord for who he is and what he has done just like the wisemen. When we understand the riches of God showered upon us through His Son and our Lord Jesus, what can we give in return? Christina Rosetti, a 19th century poet, puts it well in her Christmas carol:
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him: give my heart.