But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14 Often lost in the whole pro-life/ pro-choice debate is the heart of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the defender of life but we must not be so focused on life beginning at conception; […]
They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters. Luke 22:9-10 ESV
In our extended family which includes two grown sons, two daughters in law and seven grandchildren, the location of our family Thanksgiving dinner is a subject of delicate negotiation. In a way the Passover meal was the Jewish Thanksgiving of the first century. Lots of preparation went into planning where to hold it, who to invite and even how the table was to be set up. I confess that instead of enjoying
a season of thankfulness sometimes I have to work overtime just get along with people. Many of my frustrations come from trying to figure out mundane details which I feel God could not possibly care about.
But after three and a half years of seeing bread multiplied, water changed to wine and storms calmed by a word the disciples decided to just ask Jesus about the details of the feast. No matter what you and I face today, we should take a tip from them and ask Jesus to become our event planner. The same God who formed the universe also counts every hair on our heads. It is not a problem to ask Him to take control of even the mundane details we struggle with. When we do we might be amazed at how delighted He will be to show us exactly what He has in store!
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
Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. John 12:3 NKJV
I had long been puzzled by the differences in the stories of the anointing of Jesus at Bethany. Then I began to re-imagine the scene at the banquet. I saw Lazarus seated next to Jesus, with Martha serving the tables as the people slowly filled the room. Then Mary appeared in the doorway, holding her alabaster jar of perfumed oil. Silently she slips through the crowd to come behind where Jesus reclined and she breaks the seal on her jar pouring some on the head of Jesus.
The power of the fragrance immediately filled the room. A momentary silence ensued as the guests stopped and turned to see what had happened. But then just as quickly, the air was filled with complaints about such a waste of resources being made. Mary kneels unashamed looking up to Jesus’ face and seeing His acceptance of her gift, she pours the rest of the perfumed oil on His feet and wipes them clean with her hair. No matter how she looked to others Mary was focused on only one thing. She still had more for Jesus! As we are traveling together towards the Passion of Christ this month, we should also ask; “Am I all too worried about what everyone else will say?”, or can I say with Mary, “Master there’s still more!”
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