An Unforgettable Gift

And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 
Mark 14:3 ESV

No one saw the miracle of Easter coming, least of all His closest friends. Yet all along the pathway of His final days on earth, our Savior left them clues as to what lay ahead. Most of our churches begin the Easter story with Palm Sunday, but I would suggest that His final journey began a few days earlier at a supper table with friends. While everyone was arriving, Martha began serving the delicious meal she had prepared, and her brother Lazarus sat next to Jesus, but Mary was nowhere to be found. When, she did appear in the doorway with an alabaster jar in her hand, most likely, no one noticed. The room echoed with the clanking of plates and the hubbub that fills the air at every celebration. Now, though few were aware of her at first, when she stood directly in front of Jesus and broke open the alabaster jar that held her treasure they began to pay attention. As the scent of the powerful fragrance filled the room, Mary began pouring the perfumed oil over the head of Jesus in the manner of anointing that was reserved for the coronation of kings and the ordination of priests. Though no one understood what she was doing, Mary’s demonstration of love was so unforgettable that we are still talking about it today.

“Grace is your permanent process, your permanent position, and your permanent present. It’s where you are seated and where you are standing. For all of eternity, you get to go deeper and deeper into His wonderful grace!” Jennifer Arimborgo

A Step of Faith

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? Luke 1:34 KJV

Today, as we begin the second week of Lent, we need to remind ourselves that though the resurrection of Jesus was unexpected on our part it fit in perfectly with God’s plan. This morning, I want us to remember that the journey towards Easter, began in the humble village of Nazareth, with a young woman named Mary. She had just heard from an angel about God’s plans for her to have a child, though to her it just didn’t make any sense. How could that possibly be, since she was a virgin, and no virgin had ever given birth to a child? So, she asked a question that every believer in Jesus has asked ever since. “How shall this be?” “How will this be that an old broken-down man, a young homeless woman, a middle-aged inmate serving out His time for burglary, can be included in God’s grace. The surprising answer that Mary received 2,000 years ago, is the same good news that He has for each one of us today. God’s part is to work out His plans. Our part is only to believe. As we journey on towards Easter, God wants us to begin just as Mary did: not with a full understanding, but with a trusting step of faith.

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38 KJV

What Exactly is Lent?

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount u with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 KJV

So, you might ask, “What exactly is Lent? Great question! Well, in general, Lent is the time from Ash Wednesday until either the Wednesday before Easter, Holy Saturday or Easter Sunday depending on what tradition you follow. You also might wonder why, since there is no record of anyone in the Bible observing this 40-day period, why should we? For starters, it is never a bad idea to set aside special times for seeking God’s will and purpose. We call it, “Waiting on the Lord” and waiting comes with God’s promise of strength and renewal. Some people may choose to fast certain foods or commit to special acts of service during these weeks. However, you choose to honor the season, the most important thing of all is to focus on Jesus. For me personally it brings me back to the excitement of my first months of faith in Jesus (Which just happened to be on Easter Sunday!)

During this Lenten season we should come each morning with an open-heart and ask Jesus for a brand-new insight into His word and for His will for our day. During these weeks it is okay to slow down and live more quietly so that we can hear what God is saying. Just as the song tells us that Jesus lay silently in the grave, until Easter, we can practice a bit of that silence as with faith we joyfully look forward to that coming day. My prayer is that during these weeks ahead we may see with fresh eyes the Lord Jesus and fall in love with Him again as we remember His Last Supper, His Cross, His empty grave, and most of all our Risen Lord!

“An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge.”
John Wesley