Agnusday.org - The Lectionary Comic

Matthew 2:1-12

2003-01-02 — In anticipation of some wag observing that, “The women brought the spices AFTER the three days so the myrrh was never actually used.” I will respond. “So then why’d the Magi bring it in the first place?”

BIBLE PASSAGE — In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, âWhere is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.â When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, âIn Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: âAnd you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.ââ Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, âGo and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.â

When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

— The Epiphany of Our Lord

Rev. Sue Haseltine — ago #

I think that the family used the gold to buy passage to Egypt on a caravan. Then they sold the frankincense and myrrh to live on when they got to Egypt. That was light weight and easier to carry than the gold. Joe got work as a ‘techton’—carpenter or a stone mason, to support his family until they could return home.
Jim — ago #

Sure.
And, not to put too fine a point on it, the women never got a chance to use the myrrh (if they had it) at the other end of the story either.
But, Jesus was in the tomb for three days.
Heidi — ago #

Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the b spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
John 19:39-40
James Wetzstein — ago #

Well played Heidi! Thanks