Tuesday, March 05, 2013

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Tuesday, March 05, 2013  Mary Anointed My Head and Feet         

Page 217      Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 11:55-12:11

In our reading for today the religious leaders are plotting to do away with Jesus. Mary, believing Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, allows herself to worship Jesus without inhibition. The disciples are grumbling about the extravagant generosity of Mary.

There is an interesting parallel between this gathering and an occasion when Jesus was in Lazarus’ home, as recorded in Luke’s Gospel. In Luke, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet listening to him teach, and her sister Martha objects because she thinks Mary should be helping her prepare to serve a meal for Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Mary is again at Jesus’ feet, this time serving him as she anoints him for burial. I suspect the house was filled not only with the scent of perfume, but also with tension as the others witnessed Mary’s shameless, extravagant adoration and worship of Jesus. Judas is the one who breaks the silence with the practical observation that the perfume was needlessly being wasted.

Jesus said Mary would always be remembered for her act of adoration. Jesus’ recognition of Mary is also his way of emphasizing the great cultural reversal that takes place when the Kingdom of God is present.  Mary’s affirmation that Jesus was the Messiah stood in sharp contrast to all the men – the religious leaders, Judas, and the disciples – who failed, at that time, to recognize Jesus as the Christ.

There was quite a divergent gathering that day in Bethany. Lazarus, the man Jesus brought from death to life was there. Martha was there, working, striving, and doing what needed to be done. Judas, the pragmatic one, who knew the cost of everything, was there. The other disciples were there, in silence. Mary was there, oblivious of everyone else, giving her heart to Jesus.

If this had been your time in history, where would you have been? Would you have looked away in embarrassment because someone was so unrestrained in their devotion? Would you have concluded Jesus was more trouble than he was worth and abandoned him? Would you have given everything you had to honor Jesus?

If you were there, where would you be standing?

Maybe you were singing with Mary.

Lord, I Give You My Heart

(Hillsong United)

This is my desire, to honor You

Lord with all my heart I worship You

all I have within me

I give You praise

all that I adore is in You

Lord I give You my heart

I give You my soul

I live for You alone

Every breath that I take

Every moment I'm awake

Lord have Your way in me

Sē’lah

The second edition of my book, First Think – Then Pray has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BGQL5JC

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What word or phrase in today’s reading attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  In addition to this BLOG they are distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Wednesday, March 06, 2013       I Received Public Acclamation     

Page 223-224 Matthew 21: 1-11; Mark 11: 1-11; Luke 19: 29-44; John 12:12-19