“Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.” (John 19:39-40)
The amount of spices brought to embalm Jesus is generous and abundant – on par with royal burials. This was a lavish display of affection and respect. Though we have already seen how Jesus was maliciously and cruelly treated before and during His crucifixion, after His death His body was cared for in a royal fashion, pointing toward His role as our King.
The spices gathered are ones that played a significant role in the events of Passion Week. Spikenard, a rare and costly fragrant oil, was used by Mary of Bethany to anoint the head and feet of the Messiah. Spikenard speaks of the Bride’s extravagant adoration of and intimacy with the Bridegroom, in total abandonment, without regard to cost.
Myrrh, an exotic biblical spice, was used in purification and beautification rites, in the formula for the Holy Anointing Oil, and in burial spices. Bitter to the taste but sweet to the smell, myrrh in the spiritual sense speaks of dying to self to become a “sweet smelling savor” to the Lord.
Hyssop is a low growing evergreen, cultivated for its flower tops, from which the fragrance is extracted. It symbolizes spiritual cleansing by the refining fire of the Holy Spirit: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:7)
In temple days, sweet incense containing frankincense was placed on the Inner Altar of the Tabernacle and burned morning and evening. Frankincense was also one of the gifts brought by the wise men soon after Christ’s birth, foreshadowing the fact that He was born to die – on our behalf.
As you imagine the grave-clothes and the scents of the various spices, remember the price Jesus paid, and the price paid by those who buried Him so honorably. Shouldn’t we lavish our love on One who has loved us so generously Himself? In fact, of all the gifts you can give to God, one that He holds most precious is your heart, your personal devotion. Psalm 141:2 likens our prayers to “incense.” Why not surrender your heart afresh in a prayer of praise and devotion, a sacrifice “pleasing to the Lord?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I want to be among those who honor You. I want to give the gift that means most to You – my heart, soul, and body. Help me hold nothing back. You are a worthy King, completely deserving of my total dedication. As a fragrant offering, as best I know how, I surrender my all to You – just as You surrendered Your all for me.
* Daily Readings are not based on the sequence of events during the Passion Week, but instead to reflect on and then prayerfully consider applications of some of the aspects and events of this sacred week.