152. Anointing- Matt.
26:1-16, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 7:36-50, John 12:2-8
-We start with what appears to be the first of two incidents
where Jesus was anointed by a woman. The first was in a Pharisees’ house where
the woman came in and wiped His feet with her remorseful tears and kissed His
feet and anointed them with an alabaster flask of ointment. The Pharisee had
not given Jesus water for His feet, no kiss, and did not anoint His head with
oil when He entered his house. In comparison the woman went out of her way to
attend to the Christ’s needs. The Lord’s point is clear with the Pharisee in
His illustration story, the one who is forgiven much will love much and the one
who is forgiven little will love little (Luke 7:47). Jesus forgave her sins,
which caused quite some controversy, and His final statement is important, “Your
faith has saved you; go in peace (Luke 8:50).” *Application* This instance
demonstrates the thankfulness we need to have toward our Lord and Savior for
all that He has delivered us from. Also, it should remind us that those who
have had a horrible past can be restored and are many times the ones that are
most thankful and most effective in service for the King. Don’t be arrogant
concerning a person’s past and discredit their future. With God all things are
possible in the reconciliation process (Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27).
-The other instance of an anointing occurs right before
Christ’s crucifixion and burial in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,
where Mary (simply indentified as a woman in Matthew and Mark), the sister of
Martha and Lazarus (John 11:1-19) pours the alabaster ointment on the Head of
Christ in preparation for His burial, as Jesus puts it. He assures the guests
that observed this act that it was righteous and that it would be remembered
throughout the course of gospel history in the whole world (which has certainly
come to pass). The disciples, with the spokesman being the pilfering betrayer Judas
Iscariot, were indignant and deceitfully remarked about using the money from
this having greater potential with the poor. Jesus rebuked them and let them
know that there would always be opportunity to help the poor, but He was only
with them at this particular time. Had they really realized the significance of
this moment and the fact that they were in the presence of Almighty God, their
reaction would probably have been much different. Their eyes and ears were
still somewhat dull and unperceptive. Jesus corrects them on this and commends
the woman’s act of kindness done unto Him. *Application* The issue for us here
is to consider our love and devotion to the King of kings and Lord of lords. We
must anoint Him as God and Lord every day in our lives by coming into His
presence and worshipping at His feet. For Mary to wipe the feet of Jesus with
her hair, she had to bow before Him. We must also come humbly before Him every
day and all the time for recognition as to who He is. It is only in this manner
that we can rise up and do the service of our great and mighty King in the
world in which we live. “Bless the LORD O my soul and all that is within me,
bless His Holy Name (Psalm 103)!”
Verse to Memorize-
Luke 7:47
153. Judas Iscariot
plans Jesus’ betrayal- Matt. 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, Luke 22:3-6, John 13:2
-Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, goes to the
chief priests and works out a deal for his own personal benefit to betray the
Lord Jesus Christ. He is awarded 30 pieces of silver for the delivering over of
the Lord to the religious authorities by seeking an opportunity to betray Him
in the absence of a crowd. Some have speculated that Judas may have had decent
motives in this activity. They will give him too much benefit of the doubt and
say that perhaps he was simply trying to usher in the Kingdom by force through
instigating a conflict. This in my opinion is a short-sighted misinterpretation
of the Scriptures. John and Luke are very poignant that Satan had filled his
heart and only had greedy and evil intent with this betrayal (Luke 22:3, John
13:2). Judas Iscariot goes down as one of the greatest villains of all time by
denying the Lord Jesus. *Application* Anytime greed and selfish motivation
become our foray we are in deep trouble with the Lord. Be careful not to turn
away from God and His plans for your life by seeking your own desires and the
world’s pleasures. It could absolutely mean your demise and lead to your
destruction.
Verse to Memorize- Luke
22:6
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