Bitter-Sweet

[8] “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. [9] I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. [10] Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
[11] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

I can’t imagine what the persecution was like for those in the church at Smyrna, but its name might be able to give us some insight. “Smyrna” means “myrrh” or “bitter”. I imagine it’s a bitter thing to have to go through persecution like they went through, and like others across the globe are going through even now. Myrrh is not only bitter to the taste, but when the gummy resin has hardened, it becomes a very aromatic ingredient for perfume. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, by Spiros Zodihiates, Th.D. tells us that myrrh is “perfume which exudes spontaneously or is procured by incisions made on a small thorny tree”. Do you see the relation between the persecuted church in Smyrna, and the bitter tasting, yet sweet smelling aroma of myrrh? How bitter-sweet persecution can be. The persecution itself is hard to swallow and is bitter to the taste. But from that thorny incision called “persecution”, when you have been pressed from every side, and you spontaneously exude a beautiful, sweet smelling aroma, it’s a sacrificial offering to the Lord.

Jesus understands persecution better than anyone. He was sinless and yet was still persecuted. He has already faced death and has been raised to everlasting life through His persecution on the cross. Persecution requires death, but it leads to eternal life. It may be a death of the body, but if not the body, it is definitely a death of the flesh. It’s a death of not getting what you want—to live a life free from pain. But Jesus sees the works you’ve done and the painful, crushing pressure you’re going through. Jesus knows the utter helplessness you feel. But even though you feel helpless, you are rich and lack nothing. You have a spiritual richness that will survive any tribulation you face. And the tribulation won’t last forever, so stand strong even if you are called to die for your faith. You can hang on because Jesus will give you everything you need for what He calls you to do. If He calls you to die for Him, He will give you the grace that you need to go through it. And when you make it through to the other side and overcome, He has promised to give you the “crown of life” – an eternal life where there is no more death.

We’ve seen how myrrh is related to persecution, but it was also a part of three important events in the life of Jesus. First, when Jesus was born, the wise men gave this sweet baby gifts, one of them being myrrh. (Mt 12:11) Perhaps this was a foreshadowing of the next two events where myrrh was present in His life. Jesus was offered wine mixed with myrrh to ease the pain when He was dying on the cross, but He refused it. (Mk 15:23) Jesus didn’t want anything to mask His pain and the wrath of God that He was taking for the sins of the world. And finally, Jesus’ body was wrapped in a mixture of myrrh and aloes to prepare Him for burial. (Jn 19:39) The bitter-sweet myrrh was present at his birth and death. I can only imagine the bitter taste of His death compared to the sweet smell of victory through everlasting life as Jesus was raised from the dead -- the first of many to receive everlasting life!

You too can receive the gift of eternal life. If you’d like to know how to receive this gift, please read our blog titled, “New Life In Christ” dated April 2nd, 2010.


Bible verses taken from the New International Version.
@Copyright 2011 LVC Ministries, Inc.