Strength Comes through Trials and Tempations

Matthew 26:69-76

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

⁷¹ Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁷² He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

⁷³ After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.”

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.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:%2069%20-%2076&version=NIV1984)

Luke 22:31-34

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

³¹ “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

³³ But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

³⁴ Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022:%2031-34&version=NIV1984)

Before the rooster crows . . . words that would change the life of Peter forever.  I thought it was important to put the passage from Luke in here because of the prayer that Jesus prayed for Peter.  He prayed that his faith would not fail and that when he came to his senses and ran back to the Father that it would strengthen his brothers.  That should be our prayer for our brothers as well, even ourselves. 

There will be times in this life that we may say and do things that are not pleasing to God.  We may drift away, like I have mentioned in previous posts.  We are the ones running from God, not God running from us.  When we come to our senses and we see the errors of our ways our faith can become stronger. 

We know from the life of Peter that He did have faith.  He was so strong and brave until he was put to the test. Can you identify with that?  I see this in myself, yet as I have matured in Christ I see it less and less. For example, when I had my first miscarriage I was angry with God and didn’t even want to open His word but when the school that I believed in closed (another sort of miscarriage), and the professional life as I knew it changed, I went to His word for strength.   I have told Jesus that I want to serve Him and that I want others to see Him through me and I have to recognize that with that comes trials.  So when my life gets turned upside down I need to assess whether I am seeking Him more or denying that He is even present in my life.  I contend that if we run away from Him we are being more like the Peter who denied Christ rather than the Peter that strengthened is brothers.  Which would you rather be like?

Be assured that satan wants each of us and God will allow him to tempt us just as Jesus was tempted, Judas was tempted and Peter was tempted.  It is our response to that temptation though that God has left up to each of us.  We need to strengthen each other through prayer for one another,  we need to strengthen each other through fellowship with believers, and we need to strengthen each other through encouragement, not discouragement towards one another.  Every single one of us will mess up in this life, every single one of us will be tempted at some time in our life.  Some of us will run towards God, some of us will deny Him and then run back to Him.  My prayer for each one that reads these words is that their faith will hold strong and that they will in turn strengthen other brothers and sisters in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

As you seek Him, remember to ask Him for strength for the temptations that will come your way.  As you read His Word, He will give you the answers you need to make your faith stronger than the day before.  As you commune with Him, give Him the opportunity to speak to you just as He spoke to Peter so that you may strengthen others through your faith in Him.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila   

He is at Work

Matthew 26:57-68

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

^57 ‘Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. ⁵⁸ But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. ⁶⁰ But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

Finally two came forward ⁶¹ and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

⁶² Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” ⁶³ But Jesus remained silent.

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

⁶⁴ “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,” they answered.

⁶⁷ Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him ⁶⁸ and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you.”’

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:%2057%20-%2068&version=NIV1984)          

         

Recently I have gone through some things in this old life that just didn’t make any sense at all.  I finally determined that the reason I am going through it is because it is the will of the Father.  I have told Him that I want to serve Him, to please Him, and that I love Him.  If that is the case, and my heart is where it should be, I have to know that this is the will of the Father.  Looking at Jesus and His circumstances convinces me even more that I am in the will of the Father.  We saw in the previous scriptures that Jesus did not want to be crucified, He even prayed that not His will but the Father’s will be done.  He had sweat drops like blood, He was in anguish; but He followed the will of the Father.

None of this makes sense.  He was a man of many miracles, He spoke words of wisdom, He cared for the lowly and now there are people who are testifying against Him.  Many false witnesses trying to discount Him but they all had conflicting stories.  Then, they found two that could agree.  Jesus was quiet throughout this ordeal until He was asked if He were the Son of God and then He didn’t merely answer but gave them a bit of a warning that they would see Him again at judgment day.  That didn’t seem to faze them in the least, just made them angrier.

I have never in my life been beat up, spat upon, ridiculed in such a way that Christ endured.  My troubles seem but a speck compared to what Jesus suffered and this is just the beginning for Him.  Yet when I have troubles I cry to the Lord and He still cares for me.  I can’t fathom how GREAT of a GOD we have!  He cares for us, He is our Shepherd! Look at what He says, as recorded in John during His ministry.

John 10:14-18, New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)  ¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father —and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2010:%2014%20-%2018&version=NIV1984)

Jesus withstood the ridicules, He remained silent when He heard false acquisitions brought up against Him.  He spoke the truth and the truth was not believed and the truth did not set Him free from His captures but it set Him free to please the Father.  The point I get out of all of this today is this:  Not always will God’s way seem to be the best way in my eyes but He is the One that sees the future, not I.  If I want to please my Father I need to trust Him, understand that when things don’t make sense to me, they make sense to Him.  To be Christ-like does not always mean that life will be easy because it was not easy for Christ but to be Christ-like means to leave it all on the line for our Father in Heaven.  Rejoice when things don’t make sense, that means the Father is at work.

Seek Him and know that He is God.  There is no one that can be trusted enough with our lives than the Father because He is the good shepherd and He cares for His flock.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Remain in Him

Matthew 26:47-56

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.”

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

⁵⁵ At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching,  and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”  Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:%2047-56&version=NIV1984)

 

Luke 22:51

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

⁵¹ But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022:51&version=NIV1984)

Let’s go back and look at Matthew 26:31-35

³¹ Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me,  for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

³² But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

³³ Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

³⁴ “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

Wow, Jesus could have said, “Enough of this!  Send the angels, I am ready to show them who is in Power!”  But He didn’t.   Why not?  Because He knew His purpose for being on this earth.  What was His purpose?  To Glorify the Father through the fulfillment of scripture.  He could stay focused because He knew His purpose. 

The disciples, on the other hand were a bit confused.  Jesus asked them to come and follow Him.  They gave up all that they had to follow Jesus.  They left loved ones and careers behind in order to follow Jesus.  They ate with Him, laughed with Him and probably even cried with Him.  They knew Him better than most; some had even had a mountaintop experience with Him like none other.  They saw His miracles and were empowered to do miracles as well.  They went off together, with no money, no change of clothes, and no plan except to witness to those in different cities.  Now they stand here wanting to defend their leader and He tells them to stop.  At this point, they have forgotten all that they have known about Jesus.  They have forgotten all about His words, they become focused on themselves and fear for their very own lives and they run.

Some reading this may have never had an experience like the disciples and if so it is probably because you are young.  I think most of us though have been there at one point or many points in our lives.  We have run from God because we were thinking more about ourselves than we were about fulfilling His plan for us in our lives.  For me this moment came when I had my first miscarriage.  I was 21 years old and was lying in a hospital bed after losing my first baby.  I felt sorry for myself.  I was just at three months along and was just getting really excited about having this baby and then it was gone.   I remember my husband bringing me a devotional booklet.  I really didn’t want to have anything to do with it, I wasn’t in the mood to commune with God.  Why did He take my baby?  I was angry at Him, angry at myself and sorely disappointed.  Looking back at that point, I can say I was like the disciples and I abandoned ship for just a little while.  I did not deny Christ, or His power, I simply went in hiding, just like the disciples. 

We can all stand strong when we have Jesus by our side but what happens when He allows something to happen that we do not like?  What happens when He is not there?   Take special note of who left in this passage, was it Jesus?  No, it was His disciples.  When we feel far away from God who is it that left?  Was it God?  No, we are the ones that are led astray, our Father remains.  Jesus did not flee from the disciples, they fled from Him.  For a short time they forgot all of their training, they forgot all of the power that they had seen displayed, they felt useless, helpless, confused, you name it, they probably felt it and they ran. 

I have had many disappointing moments in my life since that miscarriage but like the disciples I learned from that moment and have grown stronger.  There are those who have suffered far more than I and have stood strong in their faith.  They didn’t remain strong through half-hearted Bible reading, or an occasional prayer, or attendance at church on Sunday morning.  No, they did it through a relationship with their Father in Heaven.  Their faith was strong because they ran too Him, not away from Him.  Even when we run away He gives us opportunity to come back to Him.  He appears to us and bids us come.  I don’t know where any of you are at today but if you are in the position that I was in, pain, agony, distress, angry, frustrated, distraught . . . reach out to Jesus, recognize His power, and ask Him to help you through.

Seek Him with all your hearts and you will find rest, power, and strength through Him.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

For the Glory of the Father

Matthew 26:36-39

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

³⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:36%20-%2039&version=NIV1984)

John 17:1-26

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Jesus Prays for Himself

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

Jesus Prays for All Believers

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017:%201%20-%2026&version=NIV1984)

 

As I looked at the account of Jesus at Gethsemane, I decided to look at each Gospel to see if any of the others stated portions of Jesus prayer that Matthew had not reported.   Interestingly enough, Matthew, Mark, and Luke are very much the same but John’s is quite lengthy and did not mention this portion in his account. 

 

As we look at the account in John we find that Jesus first prayed for Himself, then those closest to Him, and then all believers.  That must mean that Peter and James must have fallen asleep towards the beginning of the prayer as this is when Jesus was praying for Himself.  Is this all that was given to them to record or was it just the most amazing portion of the prayer to them?  Life the main point of a sermon.

 

All account make it very clear that there is no doubt that Jesus was in anguish.  In the account in Luke, it is recorded that an angel came and gave Him strength yet His sweat was like drops of blood.  He either had large drops of sweat or He was in so much anguish that His sweat was actually drops of blood.  Wow, that is a lot of anguish placed on Him.  Sometimes I think I am full of anguish but it does not even come close to what Jesus went through for us! 

 

What can we learn from this?

 

1.       Even when we are in anguish, it does not compare to the anguish that Christ went through for us.

2.      Not even Christ wanted to have to go through this horrible death but He did it anyway to bring Glory to the Father.  When we suffer, may it always be for the Glory of God.

3.      In our times of grief we need to do as Jesus did:

a.       Pray for ourselves;

b.      Pray for those closest to us;

c.       Pray for all believers

d.      Do all things for the glory of the Father.

 

Seek Him when you go through times of grief as well as times of joy.  May the angels strengthen you as they did Christ when you find that you are anguished.

 

Seeking His with all my heart,

Sheila 

He Knows

Matthew 26:17-30

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹⁷ On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

¹⁸ He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” ¹⁹ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

²⁰ When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. ²¹ And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

²² They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?”

²³ Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. ²⁴ The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

²⁵ Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”^(K)

Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”

²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

²⁷ Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.^(O) 29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

³⁰ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:17-30&version=NIV1984)

 

Luke 22:7-38

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

⁷ Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. ⁸ Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

⁹ “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

¹⁰ He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, ¹¹ and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹² He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

¹³ They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁷ After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. ¹⁸ For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. ²¹ But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. ²² The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him.” ²³ They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

²⁴ Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. ²⁵ Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. ²⁶ But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. ²⁸ You are those who have stood by me in my trials. ²⁹ And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, ³⁰ so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

³¹ “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

³³ But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

³⁴ Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

³⁵ Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”

“Nothing,” they answered.

³⁶ He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. ³⁷ It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

³⁸ The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

“That is enough,” he replied.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022:%207%20-%2038&version=NIV1984)

I have chosen today to put two different accounts of the Lord Supper in here for our reading as Luke seems to tell us a little more than Matthew did regarding the conversation around the table.

Doesn’t this sound much like brothers sitting around the dinner table wanting to point the finger in one instance and then in another proclaiming to be the best? 

Here are the things I gleaned from reading these passages:

Jesus knows:

1.      What will happen – Jesus could tell the disciples exactly what was going to happen when he told them to go to the city and find the man carrying the jug.  He placed that man where he needed to be at the time he needed to be there.  He does that for us as well.  It is no coincidence or serendipity when things seem to fall into place, it is from our Father in Heaven, His will.

2.      Our hearts – Just as he knew the heart of Judas and the heart of Simon Peter, so He knows our hearts.  Judas was placed amongst the twelve for a reason and that reason is that he would betray Jesus.  I think there might have been times in Judas’ life that he truly felt a part of the ministry yet I wonder if his heart was truly ever fully focused on the Lord.  At any rate, Jesus allowed him to be there, he allowed him to drink from the cup and partake of the bread knowing full well that he would be overtaken by satan and would betray Jesus.

3.      Those who Satan tempts- yes, Jesus even talks with satan.  We know this because He tells Simon Peter that satan wants to sift him like wheat.  We see this in Job as well when God is having a conversation with satan regarding Job.  Do you notice, satan tries to take those who we might consider most valuable to our Father?  Our Father allows some trials and He will pray that our faith remains in order that we may strengthen our brothers just as He did for Simon Peter.

4.      Our intentions – Jesus knows what we do why we do it.  He knows if we really have faith or we are putting on a show.  He knows when we think we are better than the next person.  He tells us not to lord over others.  There is not one brother in Christ on this earth that has the right to lord over any other brother/sister in Christ.  We have One Lord, One Savior, One Father we are merely His servants.  Take special note in these passages that Jesus instructs the disciples that they should not be arguing about who is the greatest, they need to be serving one another.  The moment we think that we are too good to be a servant is the time we need to refocus on our purpose on this earth.  Jesus calls us to be servants for Him?  Are you serving Him to be great in the kingdom of Heaven or are you serving Him because you love Him so much that you want nothing more than to serve Him.  If you love Him, He wants you to serve His children.   

5.      When Friends betray us - He knows when friends betray us and even knows what that feels like. 

Judas betrayed Him and Peter denied Him.  He knows the hurt of losing those you care about. The feeling of loving and not being loved in return.  That suffering continues for Him as even today there are those who betray Him and those who deny Him.  He is a forgiving Father, if we simply put our faith and trust in Him.  We need to model that forgiveness and pray for those who betray and/or deny our friendship.  Jesus did that for Peter and he was once again used to strengthen his brothers in Christ.

As you seek Him may you find that you want to serve Him more and more each day by being a servant to others. 

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Does Money Have a Hold on You?

Matthew 26:6-16

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

⁶ While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper,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.

¹⁴ Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. ¹⁶ From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:%206%20-%2016&version=NIV1984)

Do we listen and obey when He asks us to do something?

What this woman did has been preached throughout this world and I am telling the story once again.  Even though we do not know this woman, many around the world have heard of her actions, how she prepared the body of Christ for burial.  What I find most interesting about this is that generally the body was prepared after death.  This could not be done because His body would need to be taken from the cross and placed in the tomb quickly due to the observance of the Passover.  By the time they could anoint His body again, it would be too late.  Do you recall the women who went to the tomb on the third day with perfume to anoint His body?  They had good intentions but they were too late.  You can find this account in all four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 

Mark 16:1, New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

16 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. ² Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³ and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

⁴ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

⁶ “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2016:1-6&version=NIV1984)

Back to the woman with the oil, her task must have been a difficult task to do because this lady took oil that was very expensive and used it all at one time.  I remember one time my mother bought me some very expensive body powder and told me to use it on only special occasions.  Fifteen or twenty years later, I think I was still using it!  This woman used it on the most special occasions of all and it pleased the Lord.  It was laid upon this woman’s heart to anoint Him, the Righteous One, with oil for His burial.  She listened and she obeyed.  When the Lord places something on our hearts to do, do we listen and obey?  Or are we too late and miss the blessing because we think we will do it later?

What is more important to us money or the Lord?

Now some were grumbling about this because they felt this lady was wasting her money.  What would they have said had she done this when He was dead?  Would they have praised her for giving this to a dead man?  Yet when He was alive and amongst them, they thought she was crazy.  That doesn’t make much sense, why not do something for the One who is amongst you, again, it is too late when they are dead. 

I found it very interesting that at that point Judas decided that he was going to betray Jesus.  None of us know his thoughts but I have to wonder if he thought, “Well, he is going to die anyway, He said so Himself, so I might as well make some money off the deal.”  Maybe Judas was listening a little closer to what Jesus was saying than the others were.  The part that destroyed him though was that although he listened, he did not apply it to his heart, he applied it to his pocket book.  Hummm, have we ever been there?

Maybe Judas had good intentions for this money.  Maybe he reasoned to himself that he would use this money to give to the poor since this lady wasted all of hers.  I have to wonder how many people place money in the offering plate thinking it will possibly pay for the sins of that week while at the same time help the church help others in need.  Well, we know it doesn’t work that way.  There is no amount of money that will pay for our sins or make our actions right in the eyes of God.  It is only through the power of the resurrected Lord, the One that was crucified for us, that we can be cleansed from all our sins.  There is no sin too great that He will not forgive, if we will only repent and ask Him to become a part of our lives, living for Him and not for ourselves.  This is a gift and money can’t buy it.

Two people with two different perspectives.  One was praised for her actions and the other hung himself from a tree from guilt of betraying a friend.  We need to ask ourselves, “Which one am I?”

As you seek Him today, may you find that He is so much greater than any amount of money in this world.  May you do as He asks you without delay so that you won’t be too late for His blessings.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila