The Gift of Myrrh

Cammiphora myrrha tree.  Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

…and when they had opened their treasures,

They presented unto Him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:11

I have a skin condition called psoriasis, an autoimmune disease that causes the buildup of plaques on the skin from a sped-up process of skin cell growth.  Characterized by red and white plaques on the skin, it is disfiguring, as well as a health concern with increased stroke risk and the possibility of developing psoriatic arthritis.  Doctors do not know why the disease happens, there is no viable “cure,” and many of the medications used to treat the condition have multiple side effects that are destructive to other parts of the body.  Over the 35+ years that I have had this condition, scores of well-meaning friends have offered the latest in “natural” cures for psoriasis.  I have yet to find one that is truly effective to alleviate the disease.

Myrrh – the third gift that was given by the Magi to the newborn King, is a sap resin similar to frankincense, taken from the Commiphora myrrha tree.  The resin gum quickly dried, enabling it to be carried easily.  Myrrh is widely used medicinally, and is thought by some to be the “Balm of Gilead” mentioned in scripture.  Perhaps the magi thought that they would give the little family a traveling first aid kit that would enable them to treat minor scrapes and scratches that their little boy would incur.

In biblical times, however, myrrh was also used as a main ingredient in embalming “spices” or ointment, and was often burned as incense at funerals or cremations.  Perhaps the magi gave a gift that was representative of death – the death on the cross that was to be the future of the infant Messiah.  What motivated the eastern kings to give these three particular gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh – will never truly be known.  Perhaps the most we will ever know is that these men who beheld the ancient star felt propelled to follow it to the birthplace of “the King of the Jews.”  When they arrived, they offered Him their gifts to ease His way in the world, and then knelt to worship, offering Him their allegiance.