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1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii 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 kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

9 When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.

 

Mary understood what Jesus spoke about when he called people to follow him. He spoke of the hard times that would come upon those who followed. Jesus bluntly speaks of how families will be torn apart. But for Mary, there was nothing else but to follow her Lord. She sits at his feet to listen, and this behavior is praised by Jesus when Mary’s sister, Martha, admonishes her for not working. Here, one of the disciples chastises Mary for anointing Jesus with just a lavishly expensive perfume. Mary simply understood one thing that Jesus told everyone repeatedly – to follow Jesus, to truly follow, means to give everything over to him. And she did just that.

 

I wish I could be more like Mary. I have known others who live lives fully devoted to God. It is not an easy life. The world demands so much of our attention and is a much easier path. So, when you see people giving everything to God in the moment, I beseech you to encourage them. Point such behaviors out so that others can see. The world needs more discipleship and less following the world. In this, we can slowly bend the world towards God’s Kingdom where all serve our Lord and Savior fully in all things we do and say.

 

Rabbi, help us to see YOUR Light in the world so that we may step along the path that leads towards your Kingdom. Amen

 

Chad Ryberg Cryberg@livinglord.org

 

Prayer Concern: That there would be more exhorters (encouragers) in the world.