Have you ever just
took the time to see, who the person of Jesus Christ, really was?
Maybe you like myself, and simply take at face value that He was, and
that is good enough at the time. Jesus had His ministry for only
three short years. In that time, He brought with life, a radical
change, and a radically new way of thinking, and seeing the life that
we have been given. He was quite bold in His approach. He introduced
us to the Father, and the true ways of the Father. He even stated
that the Father, and Himself was one!! That cause much more than a
stink with the current leaders.
Jesus knew, that
He was about to give His life, as a ransom for our sins. He knew of
the beating that He would get, before they nailed His body on the
cross. He was in human form. Jesus could feel all the pain that He
would receive, because of the severe cruelty of the Romans, and the
cross. This had to be a very stressful time for Jesus. The time was
drawing nearer and nearer, as each day passed.
Six days before
the start of the Jewish celebration of Passover, Jesus went to the
town of Bethany. I don't know much about the Jewish culture, but the
Passover was a celebration of the Exodus of Egypt. God had freed them
from the control of the Egyptian Pharaohs, after being in bondage to
them, for roughly four hundred years. The Passover celebration would
be held in Jerusalem, so why do you think that Jesus went to Bethany
six days prior to the celebration?
This is very cool,
and can be verified in the book of John, chapter 12. He wanted to
spend time, with the ones in which was His closest friends. Lazarus
was a resident of Bethany. Lazarus and Jesus had a very special
relationship, and it grew even stronger after he died, and Jesus gave
him life again. Lazarus had actually been in the tomb three days,
when Jesus called him out. I don't know if he hopped out, or floated
out, because he was still all wrapped up in linen. I do know that
once Jesus called him out, that was the turning point. Death had to
release it hold on Lazarus, and Lazarus had to come out of that tomb
somehow!!
That is where
Jesus went to stay, was at the home of Lazarus. Mary, and Martha was
also living there, because they were the sisters of Lazarus. These
were Jesus' closest friend, and He choose to spend time with them,
because He loved them. By reading the Word, it sounded like they had
a little celebration party, and the guest of honor was Jesus.
A supper meal was
prepare in Jesus' honor, and of coarse Martha served the food. I
believe Martha was having a time breaking the old habits, of being
busy, in the presence of Jesus. Mary is still doing the same also.
She is sitting at the feet of Jesus. She has broke out some very
fragrant oil, and costly as well. She is anointing the feet of Jesus
with the oil, and drying Jesus' feet off with her hair!!
I need to
interject here. I can't see no greater way, that these two women
could show love, and worship Jesus. Martha is making sure that his
food is just the way that Jesus liked to eat it. Her mission is to
make sure that he has the proper utensils to eat with, and His cup
doesn't run dry. As far as I can tell there are thirteen men sitting
at this table with Jesus. Twelve disciples, and Lazarus, so Martha
really had her hands full.
Mary was doing
what I would call a supreme service of worship. She is humbled
herself at the feet of Jesus. She is pouring the expensive oil, on
the feet of Jesus, and working it in His feet, with her hands. Then
as the air has been filled with the essence of aroma from the
ointment, Mary does something radical. She dries the excess of oil,
from the feet of Jesus, with her hair!
We have all this
going on, and a killjoy is about to speak up. Judas has been sitting
in silence watching this take place, till he could no longer contain
his words. He started ragging on Mary, for not selling the oil, to
give to the poor. We all know that Judas didn't care anything about
the poor. All he cared about was getting that money, in the bag that
he was holding.
Jesus rebuked him
sharply, “ Leave her alone!! Mary has had that oil prepared for me,
for the event of my death.” I love Jesus, and the way that He
really is. I can't wait until the day that I can see Him face to
face!!
I believe the
massage here should be, that we need our friends. We need to have
relationships, with each other. Sharing, and loving, and spending
time with each other. We need to learn to love. Some of us need to
learn to receive love also. The real deal is when we go to the point
of our final destination. No matter which direction that we go. None
of us, are going to take anything, that we have required on this
earth with us. I f we are planning to make heaven our home, we might
as well start learning how to love right now. Once that we are living
with Jesus, there will be no hatred or strife. Only peace, love, and
harmony!!
….......Much Love
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