What the 5 Anointing Spices Teach us of Jesus
Exodus 30:23-25 "Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred [shekels], and of sweet cinnamon half so much, [even] two hundred and fifty [shekels], and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty [shekels], And of cassia five hundred [shekels], after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil."
Let's look at the 5 spices of the anointing oil and see what they might suggest to us about the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A. Myrrh.
It was the thick gummy sap from the stem of a rugged thorny tree in Arabia. A gash is made in the side of the tree the resin flows out slowly and after about two weeks it has hardened and is collected.
There was also a myrrh that was inferior. It was made by cutting down the tree and splitting it open to "Get it quick". This sap was impure and not of a good quality.
The myrrh that was of high quality was called the "Myrrh of Freedom" because it was that which flowed freely of itself, or when cut that which flowed from the wounds.
The resin that flows and hardens is referred to as "tears," because it forms into tear like shapes.
Myrrh has a very bitter taste.
How this relates to Jesus: The Myrrh of Freedom comes from the cutting into the side of a rugged thorny tree, does that suggest anything to you? Jesus was cut in His side, had thorns placed on His head, and His death was a very bitter thing. The tears suggest to us His cry from the cross, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsake Me?"
But His "cutting," has allowed the Myrrh of Freedom to flow to all who would be saved. There is a grace that flows from Calvary, Jesus was cut and there is a wonderful salve that flows from it. Salvation is also pictured in the fact that the myrrh remained on the tree after it was cut, and it had to be collected. Salvation is provided at Calvary, but it must be personally gathered up to be efficacious.
B. Sweet Cinnamon.
So called to distinguish it from another Cinnamon that though it looked the same on the outside, it did not have the same smell, or taste.
Sweet cinnamon has no pleasant odor while it is green, but its sweet aroma comes after it has been cut down, dies and dries out. Further it is the inner rhine of the plant that must be so treated.
How this relates to Jesus: Life flows from death. Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. Myrrh speaks to us more of the suffering of the Lord, Sweet cinnamon reminds us of the special blessings it brings.
There are also some practical lessons we can learn from cinnamon. Beware of cinnamon look-a likes for one. Also understand that there are hurts that while they are still green in us, we may not know or appreciate the sweet cinnamon they will afterwards produce.
C. Calamus. (Fragrant Cane)
Calamus is a fragrant cane whose root is the prized spice.
How this relates to Jesus: The roots speak of the underground, unseen, secret and private life. They speak of that which provides nourishment to the plant or tree. Jesus said that without Him we could do nothing. He said He is the vine, the root, the source, and we are to simply be the branches. This reminds us that salvation is of the Lord. It is His doing, and His alone, all that we can do is receive the nourishment that He alone can provide. This spice also speaks of Christ's intercession for us. He told Peter satan desired to sift him as wheat, but that Jesus had prayed for him. Peter probably had no prior notice or thought of this fact. Jesus was secretly doing things on Peter and our behalf. He ever liveth to make intercession for us, the great counter balance to the word of the devil who accuses us day and night before God.
Practical lesson we can learn. What we practice in private will ultimately manifest itself in the public place. If you want to have a beautiful flowering plant, you have to nourish your roots. Roots of prayer, piety, and praise.
D. Cassia.
It is the bark from a tree that was stripped and boiled for its spice, it was a very aromatic spice.
How this relates to Jesus: Ps 45:8 All thy garments [smell] of myrrh, and aloes, [and] cassia... This spice reminds us of the beauty and the glory of the One who died for us. The old hymn says Jesus is the sweetest name I know, the reason that is true is because He Himself is sweet in His person. Spurgeon says of Him: "He is delightful to every sense, to the eyes most fair, to the ear most gracious, to the spiritual nostril most sweet. The excellencies of Jesus are all most precious, comparable to the rarest spices; they are most varied, and to be likened not to myrrh alone, but to all the perfumes blended in due proportion. The Father always finds a pleasure in him, in him he is well pleased; and all regenerated spirits rejoice in him, for he is made of God unto us, "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." Note that not only is Jesus most sweet, but even his garments are so; everything that he has to do with is perfumed by his person."
A practical lesson for us is that we are not only to be salty, (showing our other worldliness) but there should be a refreshing that our lives bring to those outside the kingdom. God wants to use our walk as a fragrant spice in the life of others.
E. Olive Oil.
The only way to get olive oil is to beat it, squeeze, or press it by stomping it with the feet.
How this relates to Jesus: The olives had to be crushed to give their precious fruit. Gethsemane literally means: Oil press, it was the name of an Olive yard at the foot of the Mount of Olives. In the garden of Gethsemane the sweetest oil the world has ever known was pressed out of our Lord Jesus Christ, as He sweat drops of blood, got the victory over the flesh and prayed, "not My will but Thy will be done." Thus it is a delight to the senses, no wonder it is called the oil of gladness, and oil of joy.
When Jesus was crushed on Calvary, the most precious oil of all came forth, "Father forgive them..." Someone has said that forgiveness is the fragrance a flower gives off, after it has been crushed. That certainly was true of our Lord, I pray it will be true of us also.
So we have seen illustrated in the five principal spices, the suffering, atoning, nourishing, and fragrant blessing of the life of Jesus. Isa 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. He was cut and wounded and the sweet spices, such as the tears of Myrrh, flowing from Him bring great blessing and refreshment to our lives.
Close: Even as the tears of myrrh remained on the tree until they were collected, salvation though provided, waits on the tree of Calvary until by grace you collect it.
