The Meaning of Myrrh

Today's Scripture Matthew 2:9–13

Insight

The word Magi (Matthew 2:1) is translated “wise men” in many Bible versions. Because these men followed a star in search of a king, we know they were also astrologers. Coming from the East, they could’ve originated from the Arabian Desert, Babylon, or Persia. They’re first mentioned in 1 Kings 4:30: “[Solomon’s] wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East” (nlt). They could be the astrologers found in the courts of Babylon (Daniel 2:2; 4:6-7). Interestingly, Daniel was placed in charge of them (2:48; 5:11) and could’ve told them about the coming Messiah. For five hundred years, these magi looked forward to this prophecy. These men of great faith—whose main lead was a star in the sky—traveled thousands of miles in search of a Jewish king. As representatives of the gentile world, they saw God wrapped in human clothes and “bowed down and worshiped him” (Matthew 2:11).

Today is Epiphany, the day which commemorates the event described by the carol “We Three Kings of Orient Are” when gentile wisemen visited the child Jesus. Yet they weren’t kings, they weren’t from the Far East (as Orient formerly meant), and it’s unlikely there were three of them.

There were, however, three gifts, and the carol considers each. When the magi arrived in Bethlehem, “They opened their treasures and presented [Jesus] with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11). The gifts symbolize Jesus’ mission. Gold represents His role as King. Frankincense, mixed with the incense burned in the sanctuary, speaks of His deity. Myrrh, used to embalm dead bodies, gives us pause.

The fourth verse of the carol says, “Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume / breathes a life of gathering gloom; / sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, / sealed in the stone-cold tomb.” We wouldn’t write such a scene into the story, but God did. Jesus’ death is central to our salvation. Herod even attempted to kill Jesus while He was yet a child (v. 13).

The carol’s last verse weaves the three themes together: “Glorious now behold him arise; / King and God and sacrifice.” This completes the story of Christmas, inspiring our response: “Alleluia, Alleluia, / sounds through the earth and skies.”