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Story of the Gifts of the Magi |
 Why were those
first three gifts so special?
The Gift Of Myrrh To Jesus
Myrrh is perhaps the most mysterious. It is a resin produced by a small, tough, scraggly tree which grows in semi-desert regions of North Africa and the Red Sea. Myrrh is an Arabic word for "bitter," and it is considered a wound healer because of its strong antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Calling it "mo yao," the Chinese used it for centuries using it to treat wounds, bruises and bleeding and to relieve painful swelling.
Practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine suggest that myrrh is useful for anemia, arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, and other conditions. Even today the Germans include myrrh on their official list of herbal medicines as a beneficial treatment for mild inflammations in the throat and mouth e.g. loose teeth, gingivitis and bad breath.
The Egyptians were the ones who made it famous in Biblical times, having acquired it about the fifteenth century B.C. from Africa where myrrh trees were abundant. It was used in incense, perfumes and holy ointments and also medicinally as recorded in the Ebers Papyrus. But it's most notable use to them was that of an embalming material, used in Egyptian mummies. In fact, Myrrh was one of the burial spices of Jesus (John 19:39).
In our carol the third of the wise men sings,
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering doom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying,
sealed in the stone cold tomb.
Does it not seem strange that at His birth Jesus is given a symbol of his death? How would you feel if at your baby's birth your friends gave him some formaldehyde? Yet this was the gift for God's Son. Why? The gold showed us His nature as king. The frankincense illustrated His ministry as priest. And the myrrh, while reminding us of His role as healer, foretold His destiny to die for us as a sacrifice.
The myrrh at the beginning of His life symbolized His death. It shows up as His time on earth is coming to a close, first when a woman breaks open and anoints him with jar of expensive perfume, the Greek work for which is muron or myrrh. Before He is buried in Myrrh (John 19:39) "and it came to light while He's dying on the cross when "they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it" (Mark 15:23).
Why didn't He take it? As an anti-inflammatory, myrrh was a pain reliever. Perhaps He knew that His Father's justice required Him to suffer the full punishment for your sins and mine.
About the author.
Bruce Thomas is the president of First Christmas Project which markets the First Christmas Present, a small wooden treasure chest with gold, frankincense and myrrh and a pamphlet which explains the gospel using the three original Christmas gifts as an object lesson. It is designed to be given by Christians to their friends and family.
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