April 13 - Morning"A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me." — Song of Solomon 1:13 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."
April 13 - Evening"And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him." — Leviticus 1:4 Our Lord's being made "sin for us" is set forth here by the very significant transfer of sin to the bullock, which was made by the elders of the people. The laying of the hand was not a mere touch of contact, for in some other places of Scripture the original word has the meaning of leaning heavily, as in the expression, "Thy wrath lieth hard upon me" (Psalm 88:7). Surely this is the very essence and nature of faith, which doth not only bring us into contact with the great Substitute, but teaches us to lean upon Him with all the burden of our guilt. Jehovah made to meet upon the head of the Substitute all the offences of His covenant people, but each one of the chosen is brought personally to ratify this solemn covenant act, when by grace he is enabled by faith to lay his hand upon the head of the "Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world." Believer, do you remember
that rapturous day when you first realized pardon through Jesus the
sin-bearer? Can you not make glad confession, and join with the writer in
saying, "My soul recalls her day of deliverance with delight. Laden with
guilt and full of fears, I saw my Saviour as my Substitute, and I laid my
hand upon Him; oh! how timidly at first, but courage grew and confidence
was confirmed until I leaned my soul entirely upon Him; and now it is my
unceasing joy to know that my sins are no longer imputed to me, but laid
on Him, and like the debts of the wounded traveller, Jesus, like the good
Samaritan, has said of all my future sinfulness, ‘Set that to My account.'"
Blessed discovery! Eternal solace of a grateful heart!
"My numerous sins transferr'd to Him, April 13 |