The Magi gave Jesus gold, signifying His kingship, frankincense, signifying His priesthood, and myrrh, signifying the death He would one day submit to (Matthew 2:11). At the time they gave their gifts to Jesus, did they know He would one day die an unusual death? Did they know the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah dying—for example, Psalm 22? We don’t know what they knew, but providentially they gave gifts to Jesus that signified whom He would become: King, Priest, and Savior.
Myrrh was a bitter herb that was used when preparing the body of a deceased person for burial. The apostle John tells us that Nicodemus brought a hundred-pound mixture of myrrh and aloes with which to prepare Jesus’ body for burial after the crucifixion. Myrrh had another use—as a sedative, or pain killer. Mark tells us that Jesus was offered a mix of wine and myrrh as He hung on the cross to deaden His pain—“But He did not take it” (Mark 15:23).
Give thanks today that Jesus “endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2) for your salvation.
The cross shows the seriousness of our sin—but it also shows us the immeasurable love of God.
Billy Graham
Comments