Last night my devotion Scripture was on the last part of John 11 and the first part of John 12. It was where Jesus was being hosted at Martha, Mary, and Lazarus' place, and Mary anointed Jesus' feet with her perfume of pure nard and wiped with her hair. The background story leading to this occurrence was the incredible raising of Lazarus. The whole drama behind this could take up a whole sermon. Jesus, the Son of God, died and was raised within three days. Lazarus was dead, buried, for four days, as a sinner saved by grace. Jesus' death and resurrection was prophesied hundreds of years ago again and again, but Lazarus did not even needed to die. Jesus knew he was sick, Jesus tarried on purpose, Lazarus died, and died more days than Jesus' own. However, for me, the punchline was, Jesus loved Lazarus.
Anyhow, so after reading this portion of verses carefully, I was especially attracted to Mary's anointing of Jesus part, so I re-read those verses again and again, meditatively. I was drawn so deeply and with a divine curiosity. Mary was doing that to prepare Jesus' burial, and especially in complete appreciation for the life of her brother. She was the girl who used to sit before Jesus' feet and listened intently at the words of Jesus. Now she's anointing and wiping His feet. While others are arguing over who's the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven most of the time, she understood Jesus' true feelings.
The fragrant spikenard oil was very costly, especially to a woman. It was the dowry of the bride in those days. Its worth is about a worker's one-year wage. The hypocritical Judas of course said what a waste, better to give to the poor; at least it's a safe religious facade. Sure, he stole money from the fund, he will get some for himself by giving to the poor. Jesus replied, the poor you have always, but Me you do not have always, so leave her alone. I just think it's all a love story. The smell of the perfume filled the whole house. Those words lingered in my heart for the whole night before I went to bed.
I kept asking myself and Jesus, what is that very expensive fragrant pure nard in my life that I may give you. It's so costly that once you used it, you have no more, but it was ok, it was ok even when a bride would have no perfume with her. Well, I don't know how to explain it, but it's like giving your whole life to somebody's kind of love, maybe women would understand this thing I'm trying to paint better.
But while I was meditating on these verses, I saw something. I saw the name "Mary." A gentle nudge inside of my heart reminded me, I just made a decision to call a girl named "Mary" on this exact day. It was her birthday, and I think not many noticed that and said that to her in church today. Not on purpose though, people just don't know I guess. It was our Chinese New Year special celebration Sunday too. In any event, I especially remembered that after I called her and said "Happy Birthday" to her, I felt something stirred in my spirit, and that something in Heaven is happening. I don't really know how to explain this spiritual sensation, but it was there somehow. So after reading this Scripture, I prayed some prayer for Mary and went to take a shower.
Anyhow, so after reading this portion of verses carefully, I was especially attracted to Mary's anointing of Jesus part, so I re-read those verses again and again, meditatively. I was drawn so deeply and with a divine curiosity. Mary was doing that to prepare Jesus' burial, and especially in complete appreciation for the life of her brother. She was the girl who used to sit before Jesus' feet and listened intently at the words of Jesus. Now she's anointing and wiping His feet. While others are arguing over who's the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven most of the time, she understood Jesus' true feelings.
The fragrant spikenard oil was very costly, especially to a woman. It was the dowry of the bride in those days. Its worth is about a worker's one-year wage. The hypocritical Judas of course said what a waste, better to give to the poor; at least it's a safe religious facade. Sure, he stole money from the fund, he will get some for himself by giving to the poor. Jesus replied, the poor you have always, but Me you do not have always, so leave her alone. I just think it's all a love story. The smell of the perfume filled the whole house. Those words lingered in my heart for the whole night before I went to bed.
I kept asking myself and Jesus, what is that very expensive fragrant pure nard in my life that I may give you. It's so costly that once you used it, you have no more, but it was ok, it was ok even when a bride would have no perfume with her. Well, I don't know how to explain it, but it's like giving your whole life to somebody's kind of love, maybe women would understand this thing I'm trying to paint better.
But while I was meditating on these verses, I saw something. I saw the name "Mary." A gentle nudge inside of my heart reminded me, I just made a decision to call a girl named "Mary" on this exact day. It was her birthday, and I think not many noticed that and said that to her in church today. Not on purpose though, people just don't know I guess. It was our Chinese New Year special celebration Sunday too. In any event, I especially remembered that after I called her and said "Happy Birthday" to her, I felt something stirred in my spirit, and that something in Heaven is happening. I don't really know how to explain this spiritual sensation, but it was there somehow. So after reading this Scripture, I prayed some prayer for Mary and went to take a shower.
