Six days before Jesus’ last Passover, Lazarus, Martha, and Mary enjoyed a dinner with Jesus in Bethany. Imagine Jesus’ thoughts as He sat with Lazarus.
Lazarus, a beloved friend.
Lazarus, the one who became sick and died.
Lazarus, the dead man Jesus called to walk out of the tomb (John 11).
Lazarus, the brother who is celebrating life with the One Who will give life eternal.
Jesus, a friend of the world.
Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, sent by God to suffer on the cross for the sins of the world.
Jesus, the Messiah, laid in a tomb.
Jesus, our Savior, burst forth from the tomb. Risen!
Six days before Jesus’ crucifixion, He is celebrating life with His friends, perhaps in Simon the Leper’s home.
Leprosy, today called Hansen’s Disease, is a contagious condition that damages the skin and nervous system. In Biblical times, there was no cure, and people who had leprosy were ostracized. Here were Jesus, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, and others in the home of Simon. We can assume that Simon the Leper is another healing miracle. Simon, proud to be called the Leper whom Jesus healed!
I can imagine Mary slipping away and coming back with a precious container.
Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3
Mary, who Martha chastised for sitting at the feet of Jesus when Martha thought she should be helping with dinner, Luke 10:39.
Mary, who fell at Jesus’ feet after Lazarus had died, John 11:32.
Mary, now anointing Jesus’ feet with perfume that cost a year’s wages … wiping His feet with her hair.
A fragrant offering, pleasing to the Lord.
“You must sit at his feet, or you will never anoint them; he must pour his divine teaching into you, or you will never pour out a precious ointment upon him.” (Spurgeon)
Imagine Jesus’ thoughts as He looked upon these beloved friends. He taught them, healed them, and raised one from the dead. They loved Him and poured out their lives before Him.
Complete surrender.
But His disciple, Judas, asked why Mary had poured out this costly oil and wasted it on Jesus’ feet when it could have been sold, and the money given to the poor.
Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. “For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.” John 12:7-8
Jesus was thinking of the cross. He was thinking of His own death and the borrowed tomb He would lie in for three days.
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 1 John 4:9
Complete surrender.
Surrender to His Father.
Surrender to the shame and agony of the cross … for a season.
Surrender turned to victory over sin and death!
Surrender transformed into life eternal through Jesus Christ, our LORD!
Jesus set His eyes on the cross during that dinner … for the joy that was set before Him! Hebrews 12:2
This week, may you sit at the feet of Jesus and offer a fragrant offering of praise, adoration, and surrender.
May you walk in light of the love of Jesus and surrender your life to Him.
My prayer
Our beloved Jesus, thank You for the love that You poured out upon Your followers. You gave Your all, so that we might live eternally through You. Cause us to understand Your great sacrifice in more intimate and deeper ways. Holy Spirit, guide our thoughts as we walk this week, pray through the Word, and remember the great and precious promises and spiritual blessings that are ours in Jesus. Thank You, Jesus, for being our Savior. In Your name, we pray, Amen.
Please share in the Comments Section how you will celebrate Jesus this week.
Related posts
What miracle do you want Jesus to do for you?
Please Share Your Ideas