|
Week:11, Season:1,
2013
Posted on Saturday by PCT
|
|
Love is Never Alone
|
|
Scripture：《
John 12:1-8
》
12：1 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.
|
|
|
|
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about half a litre 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. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.’ 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 ‘Leave her alone,’ Jesus replied. ‘It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.’
When Mary heard Jesus was about to walk towards the road of the cross, she took the chance at dinner and anointed Jesus with perfume. How did she know Jesus was going to die for the world? It is previously written in the Bible that Mary sat beside Jesus’ feet and listened to his teaching. She received the “best” and praise from Jesus. Mary was focused on the words of God and her sensitivity sensed that the time of Jesus was near. Therefore, she prepared and pleased the Lord.
Precious offering
Pure nard worth 30 pieces of silver is very expensive. The price equates to a worker’s annual wages. It is also a precious product bought by a woman for her wedding with the money she had saved show her nobility. But Mary used the expensive perfume on Jesus. What made Mary willing to give so generously? Jesus said, “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.” Mary communicated her deep love and respect for Jesus through the perfume. Such an abundant offering that it even made some people feel it was a waste!
Precious items of gold and silver are used by people to express their hearts: the deeper their love, the more generous they are; the less they love, the less giving and the more concerned about money. How much is our love to God and to people? How much will we offer? Is our love too much to hurt people or be wasted? After all, we normally keep still more for ourselves. That is why Judas said, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?” Did he sincerely care about the poor? Did he feel it was a waste? Or were there some other thoughts in his mind that he wanted the perfume? Mary loved the Lord. She did not feel it was a waste to spend half a litre of pure nard on Jesus’ feet. How great the comfort she brought with love to Jesus before he walked towards the road of the cross! Even Jesus had anxiety and struggles on the suffering road of the cross. The company and love given by Mary made Jesus no longer alone, but conscious of a warm support to help him carry on with courage!
A broken offering
The perfume jar was broken and the house was filled with fragrance. The perfume was wiped and anointed on the body which made the fragrance stronger. The perfume was put in a jade bottle which needed to be broken so that it could be used, just as the beautiful olive needs to be pressed so the olive oil can be extracted for people to enjoy and give health.
In the old Christian life, bad habits and tempers need to be broken and adjusted. We must focus on the Word of God, listen to him, renew our body and mind by his words and dedicate ourselves to be used for his mission. By doing so, we thus can express the fragrance of Christians in this dark and corrupt world!
When God’s love is pouring into our heart, the fragrance of it is expressed. Committing ourselves to God will never make our life poor but instead abundant with the love of Christ. This is the aroma of the knowledge of Christ written in 2 Corinthians 2:14!
The offering glorified by long hair
Mary did not only anoint Jesus with perfume but also wiped his feet with her hair. Hair is a woman’s glory and the symbol of her beauty. That Mary wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair showed that she humbled herself and honoured the Lord. She knelt on the ground to wipe Jesus’ feet as a humble offering. We used to be sinners, dead through our sins, but now we can come to the presence of God’s salvation. How lucky we are! Do we learn from Mary to serve the Lord, worship him with humbleness and be joyful for him?
Love is never alone
Jesus is divine, but he was also incarnated to feel the loneliness, toughness, pain and burdens on the road to Golgotha. His disciples did not understand his heart but Mary’s pouring out of love and sensitivity brought Jesus comfort. Thus Jesus said: all the nations will tell this woman’s work!
On the 25th April 2010, a landslide happened on the 3.1km of Freeway No. 3 which took 4 lives. The mountain suddenly fell. Rocks not only collapsed on the freeway, but also on many people’s hearts. From the beautiful weather of that day, it took us suddenly to a valley of sorrows; a lonely road of losing beloved ones. But God’s love and prayers from brothers and sisters meant that those on this road were not alone.
Two years after the accident on Freeway No.3, a memorial concert was held at Keelung Zhongshan Church. Two songs were composed specially for this accident. One of them is “Love is Never Alone.” (You can search on YouTube to listen to the performance by the church choir of Keelung Zhongshan Church, or contact the church for music sheets at: 02-24282414) We believe “No matter what circumstances we are in, God’s love is with us and we’ll never be alone.” “When we are with Christ; we should care and pray for each other. We will feel so much love encouraging us to carry on!” The “you” in this song is God and all of those who gave their love for our Lord. The lyrics are (translation):
“Because of you, love is never alone; because of your love. Life is like a cloud, the wind comes and it disappears. The scenery of life changes often, we shall catch the moment. With your company, I will never be alone! Prayers become a warm strength. We walked through storms and sorrows, holding hands. Your love surrounds us; the everlasting love, is always in my heart! Precious love, I look upon the mountain. My help is from heaven; I shout to the sky! You weep with my sorrow, you walk with me on the darkest road. There is no more loneliness, I shout to the sky! You walk with my happiness; only your love washes away my pain. Love is never alone!”
Even Jesus on his road of life needed the company of prayers from his disciples. He received warm support from Mary through her understanding and company. Dear friends, are you in grief at the moment? Why not ask for God’s love to accompany you. You are never alone while he is with you. You can also be an angel for the lonely one; pray for him, listen to him and spend quality time to weep, laugh, and pray with him. Make of those who are suffering can feel the happiness of company from love.
Love is never alone!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For discussion：
1. Mary understood Jesus’ heart and offered generously for the Lord. Do you understand Jesus’ heart? How much are you willing to offer to the Lord?
2. Jesus was very lonely on the road of the cross to Golgotha. The world was sleeping, and people doubted him and laughed at him. Are you willing to walk and accompany our Lord to experience death and resurrection on the third day?
Please pray for：
1. For people at church who are suffering. May the comfort of God be with them. May the company of love be with them. May they never be alone in difficulties.
2. For the abundant love and grace of Jesus Christ open our minds so we can respond to his work and offer the generous, confident and best selves to God without concerns.
Prayer：
Almighty God! I know you. You are a God who knows people. You know what is in my mind. You knew Mary, Judas, and Martha and now you know me. I want to know you more and love you deeper. I want to understand your heart. May I be like Mary to humbly serve you because I love you; to give myself completely for your mission. I want to work hard to please you and receive your praise! I want to be sensitive to your mind and make your will the most important mission in my life. I will cherish the opportunities I can have to serve you in my life. I believe what I have done for you will last. In the name of Christ. Amen.
Something you can do：
1. Think of whether there were church brothers sisters who experienced great difficulties in the past year, but for whom you did not care because you were too busy. Spend some time from now to give them company and pray for them. Lead them closer to God and help them by strengthened again by him.
2. Perhaps you have been hesitant to commit and become more involved in serving our Lord in the past. Now is a chance to manage your time and make sure that your life is in the control of God.
|
|
|
|
|