a woman enters and pours a very expensive bottle of perfume on Jesus’ head. again, we see someone sacrificing…giving everything she had. it was likely the most valuable thing she owned.
an act of love.
an act of adoration.
an act of intimacy.
some of the guests were enraged. what a waste! that perfume could fetch a year’s worth of wages for the poor!
Jesus rebukes them and edifies the woman for her wonderful act of love.
this was the final straw for Judas. he couldn’t take this guy anymore. he marched right over to the priests to betray the One who loved him most.
AND SO…where do we find ourselves on this wednesday of passion week?
to be honest, i have a hard time imagining myself this intimate with Jesus. the thought of it makes me uncomfortable. i feel the same way about another story...the woman who wiped her tears from Jesus’ feet with her hair.
regardless of why i feel this way, i have little doubt that i would be uncomfortable in the situation. i’m not sure i would be Judas, the tattle-tale (after all, i don’t like making waves), but i guarantee i would react pretty similarly to the other guests in the house.
muttering things under my breath.
rolling my eyes.
veiling my insecurities and discomfort with the impotent guise of caring for the poor.
it makes me wonder how often we champion for “causes that break the heart of Jesus" completely apart from intimate connection and love for the very One whose heart so cerebrally concerns us. what are our motives?
and yet, He died for all of us. for the woman. for the guests. for Judas. even for me.
so, where do we put ourselves in this story?
not just the week before Easter, but every day?
is it our hearts that are close to Jesus?
or our mouths?
"These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men."
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men."
rethinking the Gospel.
rethinking our hearts.
rethinking our love for the Savior.
thank You for grace.
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