Lenten Devotion for 11 April 2011 Anno Domini

Lenten Devotion for 11 April 2011 Anno Domini
1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. 9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; 11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus. (John 12:1-11)

Lazarus enjoys a privilege that we shall all enjoy at some future point with the Lord after our passing – to sit at His Table – only Lazarus enjoyed it much earlier for he was restored to life by Christ. “Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.” Six days before the Passover Lamb of God would be sacrificed did Jesus come to pay His farewell visit to a family whom He loved particularly well. As was usual, Martha labored to prepare and serve the meal. Martha has the kind of love that cannot sit still. She must be about the business of satisfying the hunger of others and, especially, that of her Lord. But where is Mary, the one who loved to sit at the feet of Christ every possible moment?

Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. I believe Mary’s understanding of the teachings of Christ was enhanced by her so often sitting at His feet and hanging on every word of truth that fell from His divine lips. She understood, perhaps more than any present, what fate was about to befall her Lord and Her Savior. Her’s was the kind of faith that drank through the heart and into the mind – not through the mind and into the heart. She knew the meaning of His Words, but she also allowed her heart to translate them. The Lord’s explanation of her motive speaks for itself: “Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.” Mary has kept back this pound of expensive ointment for the final anointing of the body of Christ. How many others present were aware of all that Christ had taught about the ordeal and passion He was to experience at the hands of evil men? Notice with what generosity she lavished this expensive substance upon Jesus – so much so that the fragrance filled the house. She had held this ointment of spikenard even past the burial of her brother Lazarus. Christ was more to Mary than brother, or sister, or acquaintance, for, without Christ, all she loved (including her brother, Lazarus) would be lost. Her discretion in saving it for this moment is answered in the next exchange:

“Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor” ?Ah, yes, the man, Judas, who carried the money bag. His mind is fixed on things worldly and not heavenly. He would sooner betray a loving friend than lose a paltry thirty pieces of silver. The text provides us with the explanation: “This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein”. All charities which omit God are not charities, but greedy money-grubbers. Governments, too, cannot offer charity without stealing the greater half from the top. The thirty pieces of silver, the reward for betrayal, was not given to feed the poor after all, but to purchase a piece of ground for the burying of the traitor himself. Jesus said: “For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.” What is more important – the Potter, or the Clay? Is the lost sinner more important that the One who is able to Redeem him?

“Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.” It is a marvelous blessing to come to know Christ in a personal way – a way that breaks the yoke of bondage and allows us to become a son or daughter of the Most High God. But, while in this mortal life, we need others around us of like love and passion for Christ to encourage and edify our walk with Him. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Heb 10:25). We are encouraged by others who have become examples and miracles of God’s redeeming love. Many came to see, not only Christ, but the evidence of who He was!
There will always exist tares among the wheat! At the moment that the Spirit moves with greatest power in the hearts of men, it must be expected that the spirit of the Arch Deceiver of our souls is introduced to deter the impact of that move to the fullest extent he is able. “But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.” Those who take up their cross to follow Christ may expect to follow all the way. If they have hated the Master (Christ) how much more shall they despise His servants! If the wicked wish to destroy you and silence you for your testimony in Christ, blessed are you. If you have not tasted retribution for your faith, it would be wise to re-examine that faith. So you have taken up the cross to follow? Did you do so today?