What Preparations?
I have been thinking about the story of the woman who anointed Jesus at Bethany. The text, (Mark 14) says she came to Simon's house bringing an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. It was obviously expensive in that it was worth a year's wages. As the crowd witnesses her extravagance they begin to gossip to each other and rebuke her. What is interesting to me, rather haunting, in fact, is Jesus comments to them. He says, "Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing" "She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial." Wow!!!!
This woman, this uninvited guest, arrives with a very expensive and extravagant gift. She did not brag to them how much it was going to cost her --this gift for Messiah. She apparently did not ask anyone's permission, and did not wait for an invitation. What a powerful testimony of faith! What an extravagant show of worship---not because of the financial cost but because it appears to be the very best of all her possessions. In a truly selfless act, seemingly uncaring that eyes were watching, not dissuaded by the comments and rebukes, she shows her love for the Lord. Jesus says, she is preparing Him for His burial.
Yesterday, much of the western world celebrated the resurrection of Christ. We know because of His resurrection, we have hope. Because He is no longer in the tomb, we don't have to stay in one, either. Because He was resurrected and ascended to Heaven, we will be able to follow Him to life eternal with the Father. We know that one day, we will be resurrected to face God and our eternal destiny. So today, I am wondering how much preparation we are making for our resurrection? Are we putting forth the very best we have to get ready? Are we extravagant with our worship and praise, uncaring whose eyes are watching? Are we discouraged and dissuaded by the comments of others? Are we sitting around waiting for someone else to show us how to behave, waiting for an invitation or permission? Or are we giving our very best in worship, no matter the cost, extravagantly preparing for the resurrection?
Peace
Neva
This woman, this uninvited guest, arrives with a very expensive and extravagant gift. She did not brag to them how much it was going to cost her --this gift for Messiah. She apparently did not ask anyone's permission, and did not wait for an invitation. What a powerful testimony of faith! What an extravagant show of worship---not because of the financial cost but because it appears to be the very best of all her possessions. In a truly selfless act, seemingly uncaring that eyes were watching, not dissuaded by the comments and rebukes, she shows her love for the Lord. Jesus says, she is preparing Him for His burial.
Yesterday, much of the western world celebrated the resurrection of Christ. We know because of His resurrection, we have hope. Because He is no longer in the tomb, we don't have to stay in one, either. Because He was resurrected and ascended to Heaven, we will be able to follow Him to life eternal with the Father. We know that one day, we will be resurrected to face God and our eternal destiny. So today, I am wondering how much preparation we are making for our resurrection? Are we putting forth the very best we have to get ready? Are we extravagant with our worship and praise, uncaring whose eyes are watching? Are we discouraged and dissuaded by the comments of others? Are we sitting around waiting for someone else to show us how to behave, waiting for an invitation or permission? Or are we giving our very best in worship, no matter the cost, extravagantly preparing for the resurrection?
Peace
Neva
posted by Neva | 7:36 AM
19 Comments:
We need to think about our resurrection. Great post.
Jean
That's a good one. I hope I'm preparing myself the way I should be but it seems like the more I prepare, the more I find I have to do! It just doesn't seem enough to give a little, we have give extravagantly don't we?
neva-
Good thoughts. It would seem that we give God "some" of our good rather than our best.
That preparation is on going... isn't it?
AW
Great post, Neva.
All of us should be preparing for our death, burial and resurrection by ensuring that we are offing our best to the Lord. Thank you for the reminder.
Also, I like the thought that she offered without "fan-fare" or "worry" about what others would think. Whether great or small, what we offer should be from the heart and for the Lord.
We are so fickle about our faith, to put so much stock in other's opinions. I think there was a lie that passed around the church. That is that we have to be reserved when it comes to worship in order that we may not offend someone, which is a rather ridiculous proposition to make. Perhaps if we are unhindered in worship, we may become contagious.
The Bible tells us to have our wicks trimmed and our oil ready. The resurrection for us is coming.
Good thoughts
Dan
good thougths on the resurrection. Some I haven't really thought about. Thanks for challenging me.
I'm sure Mr. Neva had a great sermon yesterday!
Good thoughts. The statement about being affected by the comments of others really hit me. It's amazing how much time I can spend worrying about what others think or might think.
Grace and peace,
Tim
Neva,
I really enjoyed this post. I think that, too often, we look around us to see how we whould worship. God has put worship in our hearts and we should follow our hearts and give all we have.
I am glad that so many usually unspiritual people stopped yesterday to contemplate the sacrifice and the life that did not stay in the tomb. I hope that the spiritual were totally giving all themselves to Him so that some of the bystanders had to gasp in awe and realize that He is worth more than a once a year ceremony. James had a great sermon and I am sure preachers all around did as well. Now is the time to pray that our offerings to Christ yesterday will be worthy of His resurection and bring the questioners to Him.
I am also glad that I have been able to finally read and comment on the last week or so's posts. They have been great!
Kathy
I learned long ago to be true to myself and God in my worship. But I have never thought about being extravagant in my worship. I love the thoughts on that. Thanks for sharing!
I agree with everyone elses comments. We are all guilty of giving God less than extravagant worship. Shame on us!
Carol
Great thoughts about us and our worship to God. We get so caught up in worrying about what others think or to our shame, the cost of our gift that we dont give our best.
Eileen
Oh Neva,
You hit the nail right on the head. His gift to us was extravagant. Could ours be anything less?
Rachel
Trey, Our worship yesterday was wonderful, inspiring, encouraging, uplifting, powerful. The class, the singing, the communion, the sermon was really good----
AND the preacher was so cute!!!!!!
:)
Peace
n
I am so impressed with the things you see in the stories I have read so many times.
thank you for this post
Karli
I think it is funny that you and your daughter in law both did a post on extravagance on the same day.
Neat though
Lyndsay
You asked a good question! Great thoughts sis
Bobby
I really enjoy reading your blog. I like the way you make me think. You give me much more than just what I usually get.
Thanks friend,
Jeneane
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