April 13, Morning

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me." — Song of Songs 1:13 · KJV

Myrrh may well be chosen as a 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; not a sprig or flower of it, but a whole bundle. There is enough in Christ for all my needs; let me not be slow to avail myself of Him. Our well-beloved is compared to a "bundle" again for variety; for in Christ there is not only the one thing needful, but, since "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 marvelous 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, but 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 our knowledge of Him, as under lock and key, lest the devil steal anything from us. Moreover, Jesus is a "bundle of myrrh" for speciality. The emblem suggests 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 know how to enter into communion with Him, and to have close dealings with Him. Oh, blessed people, whom the Lord has admitted into His secrets, and for whom He sets Himself apart! Oh, choice and happy are those who are thus made to say, "A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me."