December 13th

Daily Reading

Psalm 69:21

But instead, they give me poison for food;
they offer me sour wine for my thirst.

Matthew 27:34

The soldiers gave Jesus wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.

(Readings taken from Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/ New Living Translation)

An aged wine

This prophecy is undeniably obscure. That the Son of God would be offered vinegary wine. What are we to make of it?

In reflection, there are two ideas worth considering as we ponder the purpose of such a specific prophecy. One idea is anchored in Christmas, and the other is anchored in Easter.

At Jesus’ birth, he is presented with gifts from wise men. The disciples in their historical recounts of this moment highlight: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Each of these gifts is deeply symbolic. The gold is a representation of earthly royalty, the type of King they were expecting Jesus to be. Wealthy, powerful, and typical. Jesus does in fact display power and authority as he ministers, but he is not the King the Israelite people envision.

Frankincense was a perfume associated with divinity. Frankincense was most frequently used in the temple for offerings made to God. This gift then, like the other gifts, was its own prophetic statement. Confirming the baby Jesus they admired, was in very nature Divine.

Myrrh was a spice best associated with embalming oil, used for the preparation of dead bodies. This unexpected present offered to a baby, foreshadowed the primary purpose of Jesus’ arrival.

At Jesus’ death, the soldiers offered him sour wine mixed with myrrh. The myrrh acted as a sedative given to criminals as they endured their excruciating crucifixion.

“They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it.” (Mark 15:23)

The spice stood as the only obstacle that could minimize the pain of Jesus’ experience. But Jesus rejects the drink. Instead, he willingly embraces all the pain of the rugged splintered cross. His back was bloodied and torn. At this moment Jesus chooses to feel the full weight of the sin of man poured upon Him in our place.

The myrrh will later be carried by Mary to a tomb at dawn, a grieving friend steeling herself to prepare his body. A body she will not find. A body once dead – now miraculously raised!

The presence of myrrh at Jesus’ birth and at his death reminds us that his life was divinely planned, from start to finish. He came as a royal king. Fully man and fully God. Importantly, he was born in order that he may ultimately die. That objective fully embraced on our behalf, is the unchanging and glorious reality of Christmas.