Holy Week
April 2
At first I thought I'd opt out of this week, saying I need a break. The truth is I don't like the meanness and manipulation, which occur the week before the resurrection. From Judas' betrayal, to Pilate caving in, Peter's three denials and the soldiers mocking Christ, the enormous heartache of Christ's mother and John nearby as Jesus is crucified is too much to comprehend for this mother's heart, then add to that the images that arise when I think of the physical sufferings he endured and I always end asking God...."Wasn't there a less violent, easier way?" This comes from someone who would have hidden her dove or lamb so her Daddy couldn't have taken them to be sacrificed.
Sacrifice, that is what a life with Christ is all about.
Today I want to reflect on John chapter 12 and the exhibition of "extravagant love" by a single woman, Mary of Bethany.
Six days before Passover, Jesus entered Bethany where Lazarus, so recently raised from the dead, was living. Lazarus and his sisters invited Jesus to dinner at their home. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those sitting at the table with them. Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus' feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house.
Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said, "Why wasn't this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces." He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them.
Jesus said, "Let her alone. She's anticipating and honoring the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you. You don't always have me."
A woman breaks an alabaster jar of expensive perfume and pours it on Jesus' head. To some these actions seemed foolish and wasteful, but Jesus saw it as a sacrificial outpouring of her love. She loved this man and knew how fulfilling his love was.
Let's do something different this week and and honor a single woman. Whether they are single by destiny, choice, divorce or death they are valuable to the Lord. Her life may not be romantic, but she has a role to play and Christ's love is sustaining her. I am so excited. I am going to invite a single woman to go shopping with me. I will share this story with her and buy her a bottle of perfume and thank her for the sacrifices she makes for so many!
The most valuable sacrifice we can make for Christ is that of pouring ourselves out for him to others.
