Tuesday, December 23, 2014

THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI - Mara (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached on December 28, 2014)

The Hebrew word, mara (myrrh has its root in this word), means bitter.  The Israelites knew bitterness in the wilderness.  They ate bitter herbs at the Passover meal.  They were familiar with the pungent aroma the bitter spice delivered when it was poured over a body or burnt in a fire.

Bitterness seems an appropriate gift for a child who would have to suffer much before he was freed from this world.  Bitter disappoinntment.  Bitter sorrow.  Bitter pain.  Bitter treatment from the Romans and the from his own people.

Bitterness

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