Six days before Passover, Jesus entered Bethany where Lazarus, so recently raised from the dead, was living. Lazarus and his sisters invited Jesus to dinner at their home. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those sitting at the table with them. Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus' feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house. Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said, "Why wasn't this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces." He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them. Jesus said, "Let her alone. She's anticipating and honoring the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you. You don't always have me."
John 12:1-8
This alabaster jar is all I have of worthI break it at your feet, Lord.
It's less than you deserve.
You are far more beautiful,
More precious than the oil,
The sum of my desires,
And the fullness of my heart...
the time that I have left
Is all I have of worth.
I lay it at your feet, Lord.
It's less than you deserve.
And though I've little strength,
and though my days are few,
You gave your life for me,
so I will live my life for you...
Smell the fragrant aroma of this exotic ointment. Feel the soothing texture. Now imagine using all of this and more to anoint Jesus. What would it be like to give such a complete gift. This woman gave her all and is remembered for all time because of it.
3 comments:
I sat at the foot of a tomb today and nothing else mattered in my life but that my Lord and Savior had died. I sat at the foot of a tomb today, like Mary, watching something die inside of me, knowing that shortly, there would be and had to be, a resurrection within me. Transformations ... Beauty, Truth and Goodness.
FROM THE PHYSICAL VIGIL:
*Love is the vessel that pours out grace and mercy. How can I not give my all?
FROM THE PHYSICAL VIGIL:
*We too can sit at Jesus' feet when we pour out ourselves. Please help me to remember that.
*Giving our all at the feet of Christ gives us the fragrance of success in living for Christ
*"The time that I have left is all I have of worth" Weigh that against the baggage? Accomplishment?
*Mary did something wonderful for Jesus. What can I do but do good for others. Love thy neighbor as you love yourself.
*I surrender and lay at your feet Lord. I give all I have to you. I am forever grateful for your love and sacrifice
*To give out of gratitude is all we are asked to do. To surrender all can only happen when I understand it was for me he chose to become acquainted with the human experience. Love is the vessel that pours out grace and mercy. How can I not give my all...
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