January
3, 2003
WALKING
IN LOVE
"And
walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself
for us" (Ephesians 5:2, NKJV).
Jesus
and His friends were invited to a feast at Simon's house.
"At the table the Saviour sat with Simon, whom He had
cured of a loathsome disease, on one side, and Lazarus, whom
He had raised from the dead, on the other. Martha served at
the table, but Mary was earnestly listening to every word
from the lips of Jesus. In His mercy, Jesus had pardoned her
sins, He had called forth her beloved brother from the grave,
and Mary's heart was filled with gratitude. She had heard
Jesus speak of His approaching death, and in her deep love
and sorrow she had longed to show Him honor. At great personal
sacrifice she had purchased an alabaster box of 'ointment
of spikenard, very costly,' with which to anoint His body.
But now many were declaring that He was about to be crowned
king. Her grief was turned to joy, and she was eager to be
first in honoring her Lord. Breaking her box of ointment,
she poured its contents upon the head and feet of Jesus; then,
as she knelt weeping, moistening them with her tears, she
wiped His feet with her long, flowing hair.
"She
had sought to avoid observation, and her movements might have
passed unnoticed, but the ointment filled the room with its
fragrance, and published her act to all present. Judas looked
upon this act with great displeasure... ["Judas said,
'Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii
and given to the poor?' This he said, not that he cared for
the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box;
and he used to take what was put in it" (John 12:5, 6)]...
"Mary
heard the words of criticism. Her heart trembled within her.
She feared that her sister would reproach her for extravagance.
The Master, too, might think her improvident. Without apology
or excuse she was about to shrink away, when the voice of
her Lord was heard, 'Let her alone'. He saw that she was embarrassed
and distressed. He knew that in this act of service she had
expressed her gratitude for the forgiveness of her sins, and
He brought relief to her mind. Lifting His voice above the
murmur of criticism, He said, 'She has done a good work for
Me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you
will, you may do them good: but Me you do not have always.
She has done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint
My body to be buried'...
"Mary
knew not the full significance of her deed of love. She could
not answer her accusers. She could not explain why she had
chosen that occasion for anointing Jesus. The Holy Spirit
had planned for her, and she had obeyed His promptings. Inspiration
stoops to give no reason. An unseen presence, it speaks to
mind and soul, and moves the heart to action...
"Christ
told Mary the meaning of her act, and in this He gave her
more than He had received. 'In that she hath poured this ointment
on My body,' He said, 'she did it for My burial.' As the alabaster
box was broken, and filled the whole house with its fragrance,
so Christ was to die, His body was to be broken; but He was
to rise from the tomb, and the fragrance of His life was to
fill the earth. Christ 'has loved us, and has given Himself
for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling
savor' "-- The Desire of Ages, pp. 558-563.
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