March 08, 2016
One of the most beautiful moments of worship in Jesus' short, earthly life occurred in the little town of Bethany. It challenges us to seize the moment to worship Him in utter abandonment, the best we can. To be reckless in our affection. Such worship is always noticed by God.
A woman came and anointed the head of Jesus with very costly perfume. Some around him were indignant and declared it a waste. They reasoned that she should have been more strategic and sold it and given the money to the poor. They even scolded her, (a judgment they would no doubt later regret).
But the One-that-Matters did not rebuke her. He commended her for the ""good deed"" she had done to Him.
""She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial"" (Mark 14:8).
GIVING ALL YOU HAVE
What did she do? She took the most precious thing she had and lavished it on Christ for the pure purpose of blessing and honoring Him.
And Christ was pleased. He received her offering with the honor it deserved. He was moved by a love so genuine it demanded the most precious thing she had (a year's wages worth), to lavish on the One-Who-is-Alone-Worthy.
Such generosity, such worship was seen by Him as a great act, not a foolish waste. There was plenty more perfume that Christ could provide for her (for is it not all a gift from Him?), but there would never again be this precise moment, this singular opportunity.
You can be assured she never regretted the gift. Surely every thought of it pleased her soul. “I would do it all over again,” are the words we can imagine her saying till the end of her life. And certainly in heaven she would only wish she had given more.
Such acts are always remembered and spoken of . . . by God and by others, just as Christ prophesied.
SO, WHAT IS IN YOUR HAND TO GIVE?
Never miss the opportunity to give with reckless abandonment to worship Him. That precise moment and the resources you have been given that are in your hand, will never be better used!
Years ago I wrote about this in the similar account in John, of Mary, who anointed His head and washed his feet with her hair.
MARY'S LOVE
She sensed the subtle sadness of His eyes,
she felt it coming soon, His time was near.
What humble act that He would not despise
would comfort and subdue His hidden tears?
She took the costly fragrance of her love,
and gave the all she had with sudden whim,
anointing her Messiah from above,
she knelt before the Lord and worshipped Him!
And then, with not a thought of public shame,
she loosed the band that held her silken hair,
and out of adoration for this Name,
she ministered to Him with gentle care.
And suddenly the supper room was filled,
with fragrances of love unusually sweet.
The picture of this precious love had stilled
the others as they watched her at His feet.
What matchless love the Master can evoke;
what ardor doth spring forth from hearts He's touched.
and though we were not there the night He spoke,
O, Jesus, may we love you ere that much!
Bill Elliff
(Written September 13, 1986)
December 20, 2024
December 17, 2024
