Mary

Back to the Garden

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“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. John 15:1

Back in 1970 Joni Mitchell wrote the now unforgettable song titled “Woodstock.” A famous line says; “We’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.” Perhaps today in the midst of rioting, shutdowns and general societal chaos a lot of us feel that same longing to be able to get back to that first garden… the Garden of Eden. Though I have always loved Joni Mitchell both as a song writer and singer; the hope for returning to the innocence of creation’s garden doesn’t lie within ourselves. The path to that place runs through another garden where the body of our crucified Lord was buried. There on the third day when they came to find Him He was not to be found (At least not at first). But Mary Magdalene remained behind even when everyone else had gone home. By going and waiting in that garden she discovered that Jesus had been there waiting all along. Today He is there still waiting for you and I. It is the Garden of Prayer and He longs for us to come and meet with Him there.

Holy Week – Day 3

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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

Though this is Holy Wednesday and the last day of Lent; I wanted to take a glance back to this banquet held in Jesus’ honor the week before. I had long been puzzled by the differences in the stories of the anointing of Jesus at Bethany; till 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 slipped through to 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 week, we should also ask; “Am I still all too worried about what everyone else will say?”, or can I say with Mary, “Master there’s still more!”

Don’t Forget Martha!

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There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.   John 12:2 NKJV

Though we often admire Mary’s example we must not forget that Jesus also loved Martha. Martha was the bold one who publicly invited Jesus and all 12 disciples to her house for dinner! Just as Mary listened and learned from Jesus, Martha also learned in her own way. Though she worked in the kitchen, and complained about her sister, she also accepted correction. Later when Jesus failed to come and heal her brother Martha was waiting at the edge of town to ask Him why He had allowed Lazarus to die. But she was also equally quick to believe when Jesus told her that He was the resurrection and the life. At the same dinner when Jesus came and sat by Lazarus and Mary came and washed His feet, Martha cooked the food and washed the plates. As Mary lavished her love on Jesus with the ointment, Martha lavished hers with service.

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As the air was filled with the fragrance of the perfume, so too the air was also filled with the aroma of Martha’s dinner. Oh yes we know the story of Mary will be told forever, but we must never forget that Jesus also loved Martha. Martha gave the best she had. If you are a Martha don’t be ashamed, just give your best and learn like she did to focus your eyes on Jesus and serve Him wherever you are!