Worship the Lord

Worship the Lord
 
Mark 14:3-9 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. 6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
 
JESUS stayed overnight in Bethany, just a short walk from Jerusalem, during the week before his death. This was the site of Jesus’ powerful resurrection of Lazarus. Lazarus, Mary and Martha lived in Bethany. John’s gospel says these three were at the meal. John also says Mary is the woman who anointed Jesus: John 12:3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. The perfume was very valuable. But the cost didn’t matter. Mary had watched Jesus give her brother back to her and Martha. How could anything material compare with a resurrected life? It is impossible to consider that any offering is extravagant when given in response to Jesus’ extravagant love.  
    There was another person in the house that day who also knew Jesus’ life-giving power. He was Simon the Leper, the host of the meal. Apparently Simon had had leprosy. He is one of many Jesus’ cured. To still call him “the Leper” indicates a human fallacy to focus on another’s problems or weakness. But no leper could host a meal. No one would come. Perhaps a better name for him is Simon the Restored. He knew Jesus’ resurrection power changed, renewed and enlivened the diseased cells into health. No material wealth could match the beauty of his renewed body. Jesus had come to provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. (Isaiah 61:3) Simon, Mary, Martha and Lazarus knew Jesus’ very personal garment of praise on their lives.
    Others, including Judas (John 12:4), did not. They seem to have good motives. Feeding the poor is one of God’s great desires. But at this moment it was time to put aside the world’s concerns and worship the Lord. The Father had created this occasion to focus on the Son. Jesus was about to shed his blood to spread the aroma of his salvation throughout the globe.
    As you consider Jesus’ life-giving gift, be mindful to pour your oil of gladness on Jesus. Worship him more than you worship anything else.