#1 Scripture: Matthew 26:6-13
6 While Jesus was in Bethany... 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. 9 "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
#1 Observation/Application: Like the disciples, we can be so cheap when it comes to the things of God. Notice their words, "Why this waste?" This reminds me of those who criticize any church that constructs a beautiful church building or spends a lot of money on something fancy for the church. But Jesus rebukes them, correcting their "cheap hearts". And we who love the Lord today need to spend more money on Jesus so that he will say of us, "They have done a beautiful thing to me."
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#2 Scripture: Matthew 26:34-35, 69-75
34 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." 35 But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you..." 69 ... a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said. 70 But he denied it... 71 ...another girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." 72 He denied it again... 73 ...those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them..." 74 Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.
#2 Observation/Application: Most of us are pretty hard on Peter for his denial of Jesus. But as I was reading, I thought of times that I have done and do things that do not identify me with Jesus. In effect, these actions and words deny Jesus. Reading this story and thinking about it causes me to repent of actions and words that to not show that I belong to Jesus. This story should cause us all to recommit ourselves to affirming and not denying Jesus with our lives.
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#3 Scripture: Matthew 27:62-66
62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day... 65 "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
#3 Observation/Application: It is amazing to me that the enemies of Jesus can't seem to give up on hateful and destructive actions toward him. Here, even after they have had Jesus brutally killed, they are still worried. It makes me smile. Because, deep down, they know that there is something about Jesus that they can never kill. And the truth is, even with their extraordinary efforts to kill him and keep him in the grave, they failed because Jesus rose from the dead! Hallelujah! No power of man can keep him down. And if we cling to him, we will be raised with him.
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Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your greatness, your power, mercy and grace that you give to us. I pray that we will always make full use of these attributes that you desire to share with us. May we be fully participating in the divine nature that you have put into the lives of those who love, obey, and serve you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
1 comment:
Loved your blog. Regarding observation #1: It bothers me a lot that I hear so many Christians berate as unspiritual those who build beautiful buildings to worship God in. We can never match the majesty and beauty of God's creation with our edifices, but God did make us in His image. I think when we use the creative gifts He gave us that He feels much like a father who has for years invested in music lessons for his child and who beams with pride when he gets to listen to that beloved child play Beethoven flawlessly at his first public recital.
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