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November 9th

The bible reading today is in Matthew 26 and Mark 14.

Jesus was in Bethany, just outside of Jerusalem. He and his disciples were staying with friends there during the Passover festival.

Let’s just listen to the following piece of today’s reading.

“And while Jesus 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.

There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.”

And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her?

She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me.

She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:3-9‬

What do we see in our mind’s eye? I see an honorable woman disrespected by her fellow followers of Jesus.

What did she do that raised the judgmental indignation of the 12 apostles? She sought to bless her Savior in the best way that she could.

Jesus got it and honored her for it. And He rebuked his friends for “troubling her” with their prideful, selfish misunderstanding of her heart.

I see a woman whose heart was so grateful for the great love of Christ for her that she didn't hesitate to give the most valuable treasure she had to him for his pleasure.

I see a follower of Christ that was far more focused upon Jesus than she was on how people would judge her actions toward Jesus.

I also wonder how the loving John misjudged the loving woman. He would rest his head on the Master’s chest during their last supper. Where was his tenderness toward this worshipper?

I also wonder how the impetuous Peter forgot what real faith looked like. His faith, at one time, looked like walking on water toward Jesus in the middle of the storm...no matter what the other fellows thought. Where was his admiration for the woman who lived out loud for her Lord?

I also wonder how the thoughtful Thomas didn't understand the woman’s pure motive for her lavish actions toward Jesus. Remember, before Thomas was a doubter, he was the first disciple to truly appreciate that Jesus was “My Lord and My God...”

And now Judas. I know why the rest of the disciples missed the “Jesus heart” of the generous, selfless worshipping woman in Bethany. Judas didn't have a “Jesus heart”...just a cold, lost, calculating, pretentious, self-centered heart who fooled everyone but Jesus.

Sadly, the rest of the first disciples counted Judas to be trusted, rather than the woman. Thus they probably sat quietly and supportive of the one who would soon betray Jesus instead of worship Him.

This is the day for zealous generous and even undignified worship of the Savior Jesus.

Have a great day