This week as we continue our Christmas Series, The Gift, we're learning all about the third gift that the wisemen brought to Jesus upon the announcement of his birth. Have you ever had a gift that just bombed with the receiver? For example, a pair of socks given to kids who were hoping for toys. Well, when it comes to the gifts of the wisemen, that gift was myrrh. Myrrh was an anesthetic used to ease pain, but it was most typically used as an embalming fluid to treat dead bodies. So why give myrrh to a little baby? This gift actually foretells that Jesus would be our suffering servant, a baby born with the destiny to die for the sins of the world.

MYRRH FOR THE SUFFERING SERVANT

In Isaiah 53, we actually see the future prophesied 700 years prior - which shows us that Jesus, the Messiah, would save God's people through His own personal suffering. It is incredible that God gave us the story of our salvation predicted 700 years before it actually happened!

Throughout Isaiah 53, the children of God are portrayed as stubborn sheep who constantly stray away from their shepherd. If you know anything about sheep, you may know that they are weak and wayward. They are unable to defend themselves from predators and easily wander off, following the crowd. We, too, are weak and honestly, we wander all the time. In our culture right now, truth has become relative and nobody knows what to believe anymore. Yet the prediction of Jesus as our suffering servant in Isaiah 53 is fulfilled in John 10:11, where we learn that Jesus is our Good Shepard who "lays down his life for the sheep."

A PREDICTION FULFILLED

When we turn back to the New Testament of the Bible, we see this gift of myrrh, this prediction of Jesus as the suffering servant, is fulfilled. The very gift that the wisemen brought to Jesus 33 years prior was offered to Jesus as he bore the burden of sin on the Cross. Matthew 27:34 says "They offered him wine mixed with gall, but he did not take it." Gall was made from myrrh and offered to Jesus to dull his pain. But, he refused it as he took on the full weight of the sin of the world. Later, Luke 23:46 tells us that Jesus declared "Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit" before he took his last breath.

WHAT THE CHRISTMAS STORY IS ALL ABOUT

In light of what Jesus did for us, we must understand that the Christmas story is not just about a family who had nowhere to stay. The Christmas story is not just about singing angels and shepherds, wisemen and a jealous king. The Christmas story is all about the God who invaded history with His glorious grace to provide you and me with the one thing we desperately needed: A Good Shepherd who would pay the penalty for our sins through His death. Isaiah 53:10 says "But it was the Lord's good plan to crush him and cause him grief." This means that, despite the suffering Jesus went through, his death and resurrection is good news for God's people.

Jesus is our suffering servant, and he surrendered His life for you. Today, he invites you to surrender your spirit to him. To surrender every moment, situation, relationship, all your gifts and positions, to his leadership in your life. We invite you to take a moment - right where you are - to pray and think through any area of your life that you need to surrender to Jesus today.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

To continue learning this Christmas season, we encourage you to check out the below additional content from Liquid Church:

• ARTICLE: When Jesus was born, people had one of three reactions to the King of Christmas. Which will you have today? Click here to read the article on The Liquid Blog.
• ARTICLE: The gift of frankincense reminds us that Jesus is our High Priest– so we can boldly approach God’s throne of grace whenever we need help! Click here to read the article on The Liquid Blog.
• MESSAGE: Vision Sunday - As we kickoff the Christmas season, hear our vision for where we see God calling our church in 2022. Click here to watch online.