I found a set of gold
earring (see Part 1). I found my clothes and it smells so good (see Part 2). And
then I had a headache; partly because I inhale too much fabric refresher and
partly because I stayed up late at night. So I took 2 tablets of Panadol for
instant relief. I can’t stand the pain. It was like a miniature Metallica rock
concert in my head. Oh, I was in pain and then no more...
The Scholars from the East
entered the house, saw Baby Jesus, kneeled, worshipped Him, opened their
luggage and presented gifts. One of it was “myrrh”. What
is myrrh? Myrrh was (some info that I read from the Bible Dictionary) a gumlike
substance with a bitter taste that was used in Jesus’ day as a medicine, and
also for the purpose of embalming bodies after death. Jesus was offered “wine mixed with a
drug called myrrh, but Jesus would not drink it” (Mark 15:23,TEV)
because it would have deadened His senses somewhat to the pain He was suffering
for us upon the cross. If Jesus didn’t took the pain on the cross fully (if He took
painkillers such as Panadol, as I would suggest stupidly if I were there), it
mean He didn’t really bore all our sins. But Jesus really took the fullness of suffering
and all the pain on the cross to redeem us back to God. “It was our sins that did
that to Him, that ripped and tore and crushed him – our sins! He took the punishment,
and made us whole. Through His bruises we get healed” (Isaiah
53, The Message).
Therefore, myrrh speaks of
His sacrificial death upon the cross for our sins. As gold speaks of His sovereignty
(read part 1), demanding our God-size worship; and frankincense speaks of His
divinity (read part 2), demanding our God’s smelling lifestyle; so myrrh speaks
of His death, demanding our God-like sacrifice.
The celebration of
Christmas then for Christ-believers is a called to live a sacrificial life as it
was displayed by Christ on the cross. Questions: Do we sometimes want our own
way? Do we often put ourselves first? Do we expect that everything should go
just as we want it to? Or are we willing to sacrifice our desires for the
desires of others? Finally, are we willing to sacrifice our time, our money, so
that the gospel may be carried to others? Ask yourself...
Merry Christmas!
THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.
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