Gifts at Christmas - Part 1

I am going to attempt something during this Christmas season. I want to explore something. I want to take a single verse; Matthew 2:11 and attempt to blog a series on this one verse. In this verse we are told;

11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

What immediately comes to mind is that upon seeing the Child; upon recognizing Christ our Lord they bowed and worshipped. Shouldn’t we all? However, I want to look at the last sentence in the verse and attempt to unpack (or maybe I should say unwrap) the three gifts and examine what we might learn from these gifts, what they might tell us about Christ and perhaps what we might learn about our relationship with Christ.

I would like to invert the order and begin with Myrrh; probably the least recognizable to each of us. I will be honest and tell you I wasn’t really sure what is was, how it was used or if it is even around anymore. However, upon doing a little research I found that Myrrh has many uses ranging from a preservative to perfume to a medicine.

What really struck me were the healing properties of Myrrh. Myrrh is used to treat many ailments and is also known for regenerating properties. A popular aromatherapy site states that Myrrh’s medicinal uses include; Anti-infectious, Antiviral, Antiparasitic, Hormone-like, Anti-inflammatory, Antihyperthyroid, and helps support the immune system.

So we might say the Myrrh is good for what ails you and you must admit what ails us most is our broken natures. With such brokenness comes great need; the need of a great physician; a healing, regenerating, preserving savior! Maybe those wise men were pretty wise; symbolically helping to reveal to us something about the nature of Christ.

I just love this imagery; the image of being healed; regenerated by the loving touch of Christ. Wayne Grudem defines regeneration as “a secret act of God in which He imparts new spiritual life to us”. Sounds like pretty powerful medicine for what ails us.

We can see healing by Christ in scriptures; both physical healings, but more importantly spiritual healings. And when we think of the spiritual healing that we need, I am so comforted by Isaiah 53 which reminds us;

4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

So, by His wounds we can be healed; restored. However, most are reluctant even avoid medicine so how do we take this medicine; the medicine of Christ shown through a gift of Myrrh? As Christ himself tells us in coming to heal the young daughter of Jairus in Luke;

50Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."

How appropriate the gift of Myrrh; a gift given to a child and freely given to us. Friends, don’t be afraid; just believe!

Grace and Peace!