TEXT:
‘And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil’ (John 12:3)
THOUGHT:
The Bible records Jesus visiting the house of Lazarus, Martha and Mary on three separate occasions.1 The first visit was before He raised Lazarus from the dead and the last was shortly afterwards. The first and last visits are similar but there is one fundamental difference that makes the last visit something special. Today’s Teaching focusses on these two visits and what happened while Jesus and His disciples were there.
1. Welcome – ‘A certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house’ (Luke 12:38)
The question is, “Would you welcome Jesus into your house or more importantly, into your life?” Martha welcomed Jesus and offered Him and the disciples hospitality. Little did she know that within a year or so Jesus would return and raise her brother from the dead. We may not see the need for Jesus right now in a physical or material way, but He knows the future and life was certainly better for Martha to face tragedy with Jesus in her life.
We may wrongly think, that Jesus would not want to come into our home or life because of our past, but He made a promise that if we invite Him to come in, He will.2 The Bible says, ‘Call upon the Lord while He is near’ (Isaiah 55:6). Whatever state your house or life are in, invite Jesus and He will change it for the better.
Calling on houses in Saltash when evangelising, it was absolutely clear that many would not welcome Jesus even if He knocked on their door personally. If only they realised what He could do for them, they would not keep the door firmly shut.
2. Work – ‘But Martha was distracted with much serving’ (Luke 10:40)
Martha started serving her guests and got agitated by Mary sitting and listening to Jesus, rather than giving her a helping hand. Her protests for Jesus to intervene invoked a gentle rebuke when Jesus replied, ‘Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her’ (Luke 10:40 NIV).
During the last visit Martha is found serving as usual but this time there is no sharp tongue at Mary listening instead of working. Martha’s frustration had turned to joy seeing her resurrected brother sat at the table.
Too many Christians are like the older brother in the parable of the Prodigal Son.3 They serve but have no joy and they vent their frustration on those who do not get involved. They need the oil of joy so when the prodigals return they can go to the party and not sulk outside!
Think about Jesus, ‘Who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross’ (Hebrews 12:2). It’s joy that will keep us serving when it is tough going because, ‘The joy of the Lord is our strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10).
3. Word – ‘Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word’ (Luke 10:39)
Mary wanted to listen to Jesus. Perhaps she started serving but over-hearing what Jesus was saying, she became rooted to the spot. There’s a time to serve and a time to sit. Whatever you do for the Lord, make sure you have time with the Lord. The washing and the housework could always be done another day, the meal could be eaten later, but it was time for the word and she was not going to miss it.
If you are too busy for church or to pray and read your bible, you are too busy! ‘Seek first the kingdom of God’ (Matthew 6:33). Start your day and week with God first, and it will go a lot better.
Paul, under house arrest, wrote to Timothy, ‘Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments’ (2 Timothy 4:11,13). Paul wanted the scriptures. Love the Word of God. Feed yourself regularly and you will be able to feed others.
4. Worship – ‘Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil’ (John 12:3).
This was the difference between the first and last visits. The welcome was the same, as was the work and the word, but now there is worship.
Mary turned around, listening but looking. She saw Martha serving with no critical tongue. She saw Lazarus her dear brother, sat at the table with Jesus, instead of lying in a tomb. Something of love, thankfulness and worship stirred in her heart.
Quietly she left the room. Some may have thought she was going to start serving but she went past the kitchen to the “safe place”. Here was the family’s pension pot, their guarantee of survival if trouble ever hit them. Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, so valuable that Judas protested it could have been sold for a year’s salary of a labourer. Equivalent in today’s money to over twenty thousand pounds!
Perhaps Mary only intended to pour a few drops on Jesus, after all the more expensive the perfume, the less one needs to use. As she held the bottle she looked at Lazarus, Martha and then Jesus, the One who was responsible for their miracle. In worship she broke it and poured all the contents over Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair.
Worship can make you do extravagant things but there is never too much we can give Jesus in return for what He has given us. She emptied her bottle and it filled the house with its fragrance.
Some houses are filled with arguments and violence. How wonderful when our homes are filled with love and praise to the One who has changed our lives.
When the complaints poured in, Jesus’ compliment to Mary rebuffed them all. Mary had done ahead of time what others would want to do but would not be able to. She had anointed Jesus’ body for burial. Thousands of years later we are still paying tribute to Mary’s worship and learning to do likewise.
Endnotes:
1 Luke 10:38-41, John 11:17-44, John 12:1-8 2Revelation 3:20 3 Luke 15:11-32
Recent Comments