A Gift of Myrrh

5 minutes to read

“Meekness and majesty,” a child and a king! The wise men (Magi) came to witness this mysterious combination of traits in one person, the God-man. Though He was the Prince of Heaven, He became poor. Though He was the Mighty God, He became a helpless baby. This King had not come to be the boss but 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. And in this article, I want us to consider the gift of myrrh brought by the Magi.

The Preciousness of Myrrh
Myrrh is a precious resin used in medicine, perfumery, and incense, having innumerable medicinal uses too. A simple glance into WebMD reveals the value of this medicinal resin.¹ 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 30:23). This precious resin was gifted to Solomon when kings came to visit him to seek his wisdom (1 Ki 10:25). Elsewhere, myrrh is described as having perfuming quality and diffusing fragrance (Est 2:12; Ps. 45:8; Prov 7:17; Song 1:13). Thus, it is evident that the Magi were wise when they chose myrrh as a present to the newborn king.

The Symbolism in the Gift of Myrrh
Now, 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.² 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 his life, at the end of his life when he was hanging on the cross (Mk 15:23)³, and for his burial (Jn 19:39) as well.⁴ We would not be wrong to infer 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
Whether they understood it or not, the Magi testified to the gospel visibly in their gifts to Jesus. Their gifts declared that Jesus is the king who has come down from heaven (gold), to fulfill the priestly duties (frankincense), and to die for our sins (myrrh). Jesus’ birth cannot be separated from his death, burial, and resurrection. If the nativity accounts are observed carefully, they present Jesus’ role as the atoning savior and redeemer.

Christmas, thus, is all about the Gospel: God sent his Son into this world in human flesh to die for sinners. Have you repented of your sins and put your trust in this perfect savior, the Lord Jesus Christ? If you have already believed in the gospel, like the Magi, this should motivate you to ponder and worship the Lord for who He is and what He has done. When we understand the riches God showered upon us through His Son and our Lord Jesus, what can we give in return? Christina Rosetti, a 19^th 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.⁵

1.  https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-570/myrrh
2.  R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew: The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2007). 
3.  “Wine mixed with myrrh” is an allusion to the suffering of the righteous man graphically described in Ps. 69:21, was a primitive narcotic offered to deaden the pain of crucifixion victims. Jesus refused it. He did not rely on a narcotic to render his final act of obedience but accepted God’s will in a fully conscious state.” James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark: The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2002).
4.  The Jews turned it into powdered form, and mixed it with aloes, a powder of aromatic sandalwood. The mixture provided a pleasant fragrance during burial, to stifle the smell of putrefaction. D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John: The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Wb. Eerdmans, 1991).
5.  McLaughlin, Rebecca. Is Christmas Unbelievable?: Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About the World's Most Famous Story (p. 47). The Good Book Company. Kindle Edition.