A Bundle of Myrrh Is My Well-Beloved Unto Me
Jesus is a 'bundle of myrrh' full of precious qualities and virtues that make Him our well-beloved.
C.H. Spurgeon eloquently compares Jesus to a 'bundle of myrrh,' emphasizing His preciousness, variety, and sufficiency for all our needs. He highlights that Christ is not just a small portion but a full casket, providing everything necessary for life and godliness. Spurgeon encourages believers to treasure Christ, recognizing His multifaceted nature as Prophet, Priest, King, and more, while also emphasizing the importance of preserving our relationship with Him. The sermon underscores the special grace given to those who commune closely with Jesus, making them aware of His distinct and fragrant presence in their lives.
Text
Myrrh may well be chosen as the type of Jesus on account of its preciousness, its perfume, its pleasantness, its healing, preserving, disinfecting qualities, and its connection with sacrifice. But why is He compared to "a bundle of myrrh"? First, for plenty. He is not a drop of it, He is a casket full. He is not a sprig or flower of it, but a whole bundle. There is enough in Christ for all my necessities; let me not be slow to avail myself of Him. Our well-beloved is compared to a "bundle" again, for variety: for there is in Christ not only the one thing needful, but in "Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," everything needful is in Him.
Take Jesus in His different characters, and you will see a marvellous variety--Prophet, Priest, King, Husband, Friend, Shepherd. Consider Him in His life, death, resurrection, ascension, second advent; view Him in His virtue, gentleness, courage, self-denial, love, faithfulness, truth, righteousness-- everywhere He is a bundle of preciousness. He is a "bundle of myrrh" for preservation--not loose myrrh tied up, myrrh to be stored in a casket. We must value Him as our best treasure; we must prize His words and His ordinances; and we must keep our thoughts of Him and knowledge of Him as under lock and key, lest the devil should steal anything from us.
Moreover, Jesus is a "bundle of myrrh" for speciality. The emblem suggests the idea of distinguishing, discriminating grace. From before the foundation of the world, He was set apart for His people; and He gives forth His perfume only to those who understand how to enter into communion with Him, to have close dealings with Him. Oh! blessed people whom the Lord hath admitted into His secrets, and for whom He sets Himself apart. Oh! choice and happy who are thus made to say, "A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me."
Sermon Outline
- I. Jesus is a 'bundle of myrrh' for plenty
- A. He has enough for all our necessities
- B. We must not be slow to avail ourselves of Him
- II. Jesus is a 'bundle of myrrh' for variety
- A. He is full of different characters and virtues
- B. He is Prophet, Priest, King, Husband, Friend, Shepherd, and more
- III. Jesus is a 'bundle of myrrh' for preservation
- A. We must value Him as our best treasure
- B. We must keep our thoughts of Him and knowledge of Him secure
- IV. Jesus is a 'bundle of myrrh' for speciality
- A. He gives His perfume only to those who understand Him
- B. He sets Himself apart for His people from before the foundation of the world
Key Quotes
“He is not a drop of it, He is a casket full.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We must not be slow to avail ourselves of Jesus' precious qualities and virtues.
- We must value Jesus as our best treasure and keep our thoughts of Him and knowledge of Him secure.
- We must understand how to enter into communion with Jesus to experience His speciality.