But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” John 12:7-8
What if Jesus knocked on your door to come and stay 24 hours with you? What would that look like? Would you get a busy serving, or would you let Him guide and direct what happens? We would get busy for many of us, but we can learn a lot from Lazarus, who was dead four days and raised from the dead by Jesus. Lazarus now knows what it is to be really alive, and it is not busyness but stillness sitting at the table with the Lord Jesus. Jesus has Lazarus’ undivided attention, and we need to know that it is okay to show up to sit and listen to him. As we look to post COVID-19, things will speed up in search of a new normal. Let that new normal be more time with Jesus. Jesus’ coming was that we could come to him and find rest (Matthew 11:28). Even as Jesus prepared for His final week before His death, He was changing attitudes, perceptions, and activities of all those He encountered. He continued to shepherd and give a glimpse of the table He is preparing in the presence of our enemies (Psalm 23:5). Submission to the Lord is a good place, but many of us don’t see it until we have a catastrophic life event.
When Jesus comes into our lives, it is never an ordinary event. In fact, He brings value to our living experiences that no earthly thing could buy. This truth is demonstrated by Mary’s devotion to the Lord Jesus. She not only anoints Him with costly oil, but she wipes his feet with her hair. Both of these acts exhibit extreme gratitude for the Lord’s value and worth to who she is now. She experienced the truth of the gospel shared and lived out through the raising of her brother Lazarus (Luke 4:18-19). Her sacrifice revealed her reality of Jesus Christ being her King and her Lord, whose gospel feet are beautiful (Romans 10:15). Mary saw that her rightful place was at the Lord’s feet. Our lives are to be a living sacrifice to God and not to money.
The character difference between Mary and Judas is exposed, not to condemn Judas but to reveal an opportunity for Him to grow. The Lord could have sent him away, but any dialogue with the Lord is an opportunity for transformation if our hearts are willing. Judas is known for his self-interest and doing what he wants by any means necessary. Yet, Judas did understand that helping the poor was a good thing and the right thing to do (Deuteronomy 15:11). The problem was that Judas is missing this valuable moment in time to focus on Jesus and misunderstood than any serving we do must be an outgrowth of our devotion to the Lord. Loving the Lord with all of our being is commanded of us. In other words, there must be with an intensity in our loving relationship with God. Judah was invited to a place of humility so that the right elevation and caring can happen for him (1 Peter 5:6-7).
What does loving the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind look like for you? Our love must be complete and undivided. When all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength express our full devotion to the Lord, we will be free to get in place at His table, at His feet, or in humble service to Him. In His preparation, He continues to prepare others to follow Him. Get in place!
Because He lives,
Pastor Reggie Sheppard