Like Frankincense, myrrh is an aromatic resin harvested since ancient times for its medicinal properties and religious significance. Myrrh is collected from a thorny bush that is bled repeatedly so that the sap can be collected and processed. One of its uses at the time of Jesus was as part of the embalming process. In fact, as they were preparing the body of Jesus for His burial, Nicodemus brought a mixture of Myrrh and aloes for that purpose. Myrrh was also used as part of the holy anointing oil to consecrate priests for service in the temple. One of the first gifts that Jesus received was myrrh and it was also one of the last things given to Him by His disciples before His burial. Jesus was prepared from infancy for His sacred mission to die for the salvation of the world. It is a sacrifice that none of us can fully understand because while there have been many who have been willing to die for a good cause or to save their loved ones, at the end of the day that has more to do with timing than anything else. Noble though every martyr’s sacrifice has undoubtedly been, it is also true that if they had not made the choice to die heroically, they all would have eventually died in one way or another. Not so with Jesus Christ. He was the Son of God. He had the power over death. If He had not made the choice to lay down His life, then He would not have died at that time or ever. But He gave His life as a gift for us, so that we may also accept that death is a necessary part of our eternal progression. If He who did not deserve to die could go like a lamb before the slaughter, then we can also submit to the sacrifices that are required of us. As we honor the birth and the life and the death of our Savior Jesus Christ, let us remember the gift of Myrrh and the gift of one who did not have to die but died anyway because He loves us.
