Wearing a Towel

Lately I realized that I only have a single pair of Jeans without a spot of paint. “You know that’s your own fault.” my wife told me.

Because I forget about changing clothes when I am in a hurry to start the next project, my jeans have made me a marked man. Everyone knows what I’ve been doing by the way I am dressed.

In that same way all the disciples immediately knew what Jesus was going to do as soon as they saw the towel. He was no longer identified by the teacher’s robe, now he was dressed for a servant’s job. It would be like seeing our pastor showing up in overalls riding in the back of the sanitation truck ready to pick up your garbage. “What could Jesus be thinking?” they asked each other. But in fact Jesus was for the first time revealing to them His true identity. He had not come to be a king (not yet).

The shock of seeing their master wearing a servant’s towel would only be surpassed when they saw Him on the cross. There as He hung from its splintered beams, without even a towel, He washed us all and as the servant of all took away our sins. What a humble Savior we serve!

 

Martha’s Heart

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

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. 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!

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