April 15, 2019
John 12:1-8 Good News Translation (GNT)
Today is the thirty-fifth day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.” Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God. As we draw closer, we learn from the Spirit what it means to have life in his name. This life in his name brings Light or illumination and reminds us of our oneness with Christ; we are in him and he is in us. It is a picture of worship; the Lord is worthy of our worship. We bring our lives to God and in a holy exchange for salvation we are connected to Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the early church in Colosse teaching them, “Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father (Col. 3:17). Are you learning to live life in his name?
In our passage today, we note Mary knows what it means to live life in Jesus’ name. Mary releases extravagant worship for her King. Remember, worship is at the center of the Christian life. Although she does not realize it, Mary is a lead worshiper in this moment as she anoints the feet of Jesus with perfume and dries his feet with her hair. This anointing is a public demonstration and declaration of Mary’s faith in Jesus as the Messiah; she cares nothing about what others around her think because she is focused on worshiping the One who alone is worthy of all praise. Therefore, the Lord honors her. In fact, the gospel of Matthew shares the story about Mary, the anointing perfume, and quotes Jesus, “Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what Mary has done will also be told, in memory of her” (26:13). Within days, Jesus will wrap a towel around his waist and wash the feet of the disciples. He will tell the other disciples, “If I as your Teacher and Lord have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done” (John 13:13-14). The disciples are learning to live in Jesus’ name.
During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart. P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield. May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.
John 12:1-8 Jesus Is Anointed at Bethany
12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, the man he had raised from death. 2 They prepared a dinner for him there, which Martha helped serve; Lazarus was one of those who were sitting at the table with Jesus. 3 Then Mary took a whole pint of a very expensive perfume made of pure nard, poured it on Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The sweet smell of the perfume filled the whole house. 4 One of Jesus’ disciples, Judas Iscariot—the one who was going to betray him—said, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. He carried the money bag and would help himself from it.
7 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Let her keep what she has for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me.”
Prayer: Lord, I praise you for bringing me into oneness with you; you are in me and I am in you. I repent for not always representing your name as I should in everything I do and say. Please forgive me. I ask for you to extend to me each day a greater understanding of life in your name. I put praise on my lips and gratitude in my heart for the love of the Father. As your worshiper, I desire to yield to the work of the Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.