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| The gift of Myrrh |
And they gave gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh...
Myrrh is a reddish-brown dried sap from a thorny tree — Commiphora myrrha, also known as C. molmol - that is native to northeastern Africa and southwest Asia. A steam distillation process is used to extract myrrh essential oil(perfumed), which is amber to brown in color and has an earthy scent
Myrrh in ancient times was used for the purification of women; and a means of perfuming beds and clothing; wine was mixed with myrrh to obtain an anesthetic medicine; and it was also used to embalm corpses. Most notable with regard to Jesus’ life, myrrh was a key ingredient in the mixture of spices that were used to prepare his body for burial
Myrrh was in in Christ's case associated with death
Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Myrrh
Why was this gift presented to a newborn?
The visit of the Wisemen was in part due to knowledge other than affiliation, they believed in what they perceived to be the truth, otherwise, myrrh at a newborn's occasion was a bad idea and bad news. You would think twice before presenting such.
The message also is that the child would at some time be given to suffering and death.
So, tomorrow's message would be the message of the gifts as a whole.
Compliments of the season
Refs:
Mt 2:1-14, Jn 19:38-40,Esther 2:12,Song of Songs 3:16,Mark 15:23,John 19:39
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