Today’s comments center on the gifts offered to Jesus by the Wise Men from the East. The gift for today’s thought is Myrrh. Myrrh, as does frankincense, comes from a bush-like tree and is from the same family as frankincense. A cut is made in the tree. Sap that leaks through the bark is like gum. I understand the harvesting is similar to the way Maple Syrup is harvested. It is more bitter than is frankincense and was used for perfume, embalming and as a cure for different ailments.
Myrrh is obtained via the suffering of a wound. Many commentators type it in Christ’s case as pointing to the purpose of suffering for the sins of the world. Again most used the three gifts as common ones offered to a king. Gold for the King, frankincense for the Priest and Myrrh for the Grief associated with all three offices.
When applied to the great three in one, the triune nature of God, it’s not hard to see the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost portrayed in the gifts. The Gold represents Deity, the frankincense the humanity of Jesus Christ, as pointed out in the earlier article of 12-20-2018.
Today’s focus is on the Myrrh. I type it as representing the physical suffering of Jesus Christ, but also that of the Holy Spirit. Most of us are more than familiar with the suffering of our Savior at Calvary, but fail to think about the suffering of the Holy Spirit. Note a passage far removed from the Christmas story:
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. (NKJV).
The Myrrh speaks to the grief God experiences when we “grieve the Spirit.” It as well speaks the truth put forth by the poet, “God has one Son without sin, but none without sorrow.” Tis true. The next time your group of Christian’s get into a bitter disagreement, pause and remember this was addressed during the visit of the Magi at Bethlehem.
A practical note; each gift offered was very valuable and may have been used by Joseph and Mary to finance their God ordered trip to Egypt! God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform.
Remember the travel time invested by the Magi. Time! It counts!
Larry Lilly, Please share with friends. For twitter https://www.larrylilly.net/blog
Use IT Time Wisely. Oral Deckard