Lent - Day 41 (18/4/2011)

"True Worship"

John 12:1-11

Today's beautiful act of love took place after Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead.

In this expression o profound love - Mary enters, pours expensive perfume over Jesus' feet, and wipe his feet with her hair. The topic of intense debate was about the expensive perfume, but let us ponder for a moment the way we may understand how this expensive perfume connects with Jesus' feet, Mary's hair and what God may desire that we learn from this.

The expensive perfume:
We always say that God does not look at the cost of what we offer God. And that is right.

But is it a way of life for us to offer God that which costs us nothing? The issue is not the monetary value, but the personal value (cost) to us.
What is the most costly offering we have offered to God?
Which of our offering to God do we think God treasures the most?

The feet:
John the Baptist said that he was not worthy to untie the thongs of Jesus' sandals (John 1:27).
The expensive perfume is not fit for the feet of Jesus. Our most costly offering may not be fit for our Lord. Yet Jesus accepts our offering graciously. Dare we ever take pride in what we offer God?

The hair:
The hair is the glory of a woman, and yet Mary used it to wipe Jesus' feet. There was no trace of pride, no trace of shame. And there was no thought of using anything else to wipe Jesus' feet. Would I turn to a cheaper substitute, a lesser alternative, ask someone else, if the Lord has need of my service?

What was most poignant of Mary;s tender expression of love for Jesus?

It is this.

She was unashamedly teling everyone who she thinks Jesus was, and who she was in relation to Jesus. It was for Mary - an act of worship. And Jesus, not only accepted her act of worship, He defended her profession of love.

Prayer
Lord, help me worship and love You anew!

From Contemplation to Action
Do something unashamedly loving for God today.