Have you ever planned a dinner and everything was going to be perfect? Normally something goes wrong and everything you were planning just fell apart. Mark has just revealed to us in his gospel how the Jewish leaders were planning to kill Jesus and now he takes us back to a meal on the eve of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Please read Mark 14:3-10. This meal is taking place in Bethay just outside of Jerusalem in the house of Simon the leper. The special guest is Jesus, his disciples, and Lazarus whom he raised from the dead. (John 12:1-8) Martha is serving the meal. This dinner is interrupted by a lady who enters the room with an alabaster flask full of an ointment of pure nard. This lady is Mary, Martha’s sister, the one who enjoyed sitting at Jesus’ feet while he taught those in the room the word of God. Mary takes this flask of expensive ointment and breaks it and pours out this ointment on Jesus’ body. Out of the gratitude of her heart she worships Jesus extravagantly, so much so that she uses her hair to wipe his feet with this ointment. Dinner is interrupted. Judas begins the process of expressing indignation against her, followed by the other disciples. These disciples were angry at her because they judged what she did as a waste of resources. I’m surprised that we don’t find Lazarus defending his sister. This woman has done a beautiful thing to Jesus. She worships him with such gratitude that I have trouble finding words to express her worship. At some point along the way she came to Jesus broken, dead in trespasses and sin and he forgave her and caused her to be born again. These two sisters of Lazarus have seen Jesus do something that only God could do. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after he had been dead for three days. Truth be told Jesus can do the same today. He hasn’t changed. Jesus interrupts the angry disciples being led by Judas Ischariot and comes to her defense. Not only does he defend her but he honors her for her worship. The promise is still true that the Lord rewards those who diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) Two questions come to mind that I want to ask you as you read this: Have you, like these disciples, misjudged someone’s worship of Jesus? Secondly, When was the last time you came broken to Jesus pouring out your heart to him and just worshiped him for who he is? What Jesus did for Simon the leper, Lazarus, Martha, Mary and the eleven disciples who remained faithful, he wants to do for you as well. Jesus wants to cleanse you from your sins, wants to give you a new life in his name, and put his Holy Spirit within you to help you live in this new life he has given you. I invite you to come and worship with us or one of our many local Churches this Sunday morning where you can learn more about Jesus Christ and what it means to follow him.
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