Myrrh, Episode 17 (12/14/2021)

Episode 17: The Gift of Myrrh

"And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." Matthew Chapter 2, Verse 11

I am Myrrh, a fragrant spice added to oil. These oils are used for anointing. Anointing represents the holiness, strength, and healing that God gives to his people. The fragrant oil is used to anoint the young, old, those near death and those who have died.

Today King Balthasar is presenting me to a baby named Jesus. Jesus is said to be a mighty king, the holy one of God. He’s not just a mighty king, but a king filled with love for his people. He loves his people so much that he will give his life for them on a cross and die for them! That’s why King Balthasar is giving me to baby Jesus. Because one day he will die for the people he loves, so that they can live forever in heaven. It seems strange to think about death when this baby has just been born. But that’s the very reason he came, to save his people by offering his life for them!

Dear Jesus, during these days of Advent help us to remember that you love us so much that you are ready to give your life for us. Help us to experience this great love that is stronger even than death! And help us share that love with others in our words, thoughts, and actions. Amen.

Prayer Starter for Parents

"That’s why King Balthasar is giving me to baby Jesus. Because one day he will die for the people he loves, so that they can live forever in heaven." The real and deepest joy of Christmas isn't only that God has come close to us, to be with us. He came close to us, in the flesh, so that he could give his life up for us. It's important for our children to learn at an early age the greatness of God's love for us, that he will give his life for us on the Cross.

As you pray with your kids today, here's a direction to go in to make the most of today's podcast:

Start by praying with this verse from Jesus that reminds us that real love is sacrificial: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." (John 15:13) After you pray through this with your kids, help them to see the main point Jesus is making: When we really love someone, we are willing to sacrifice for them. When we really love someone, we actually want to put them ahead of ourselves. How do they react to this? Can they see examples of how people love this way? Next, remind them that this is exactly the way Jesus loves us by praying through one of the best known verses in the Bible (John 3:16):

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." (John 3:16)

What an amazing love! God the Father gave us his Son, not only when he was born in Bethlehem: He gave us his Son on the Cross to suffer and die for us that we might be forgiven and come home to the Father. That's why Jesus receives the gift of myrrh as a baby: because he has come to give his life for us. End your prayer time with your kids thanking God for such an amazing love. Invite your kids to thank the Lord out loud in their own words. (Learning to pray in a simple, spontaneous way out loud is often more difficult for adults than for kids, so don't hold back here! You may be amazed at what your children say when you encourage them to thank the Lord this way...)