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THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest miracle and the most important event in the history of the world. The Resurrection was a literal, physical raising of Jesus’ body from the dead. No man witnessed this mighty miracle. The stone was rolled away by the angel, not to let Jesus out, because in His spiritual body, He could pass thru walls. The stone was rolled away for men to see the empty tomb. The Resurrection of Jesus is not just an event. It is foundational to the Christian faith. Without the resurrection, faith in God’s saving grace thru Christ is destroyed. Apostle Paul said: “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1Cor 15:14; NIV). In other words, if Christ is not risen, then go home! Christianity is nothing. If the body of Jesus is still in the grave, then death has won. Sin has won. Without the resurrection, the gospel message loses its power and purpose, reducing it to mere philosophy or moral teaching. The early church’s rapid growth and the willingness of the apostles to suffer persecution and martyrdom shows their conviction in the truth of the resurrection. The preaching of the resurrection is what distinguishes Christianity from other religions and philosophies. Believers are called to live in the power of resurrection, experiencing victory over sin and hope in eternal life! That is why we preach the Gospel!

When Jesus rose from the dead, He confirmed His identity as the Son of God and His work of redemption, reconciliation, and salvation. The devil fought the fact of the Resurrection of Jesus immediately it happened. The soldiers that guarded the tomb were bribed by the Pharisees to say that the disciples stole Jesus’ body. Some say that Jesus did not really die. He only fainted on the Cross. Some men claimed that they found the bones of Jesus in a tomb in Jerusalem. These are all false news propagated by the devil’s agents.

The spiritual body is incorruptible (cannot decay or disappear), glorious, powerful, heavenly and filled (to overflow) with eternal life (1 Cor 15:42-49). Spiritually speaking, the resurrection has been experienced by all true believers. It produces the greatest transformation in a man. By Faith in Jesus Christ, the sinner becomes a saint. This means death to the old life and entering eternal life. This translation from darkness of sin to the light of the Kingdom of God, to become born-again, it is by the power of resurrection. We sometimes think that when Jesus resurrected, He just came back to His life as it was before death. That is not true. He revealed Himself to His disciples so that they know He is alive again. But He did not continue with them like before. After forty days He ascended to heaven. That where His spiritual body belongs. There is a great difference between resuscitation and resurrection. Lazarus was brought back to ordinary physical life. He was resuscitated, but he wasn’t really resurrected. Sometime later, he died again. But the radical transformation in resurrection is from death to eternal life!!! Selah! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead works in the believers, to transform their lives to be like Jesus! Glory!

Jesus spoke about His death and resurrection. He said: “I am the Resurrection and the Life,” (Jn 11:25; NIV) and “before Abraham was born, I AM.” (Jn 8:58; NIV). These words seem to be the words of a crazy man. The only other option is that Jesus is indeed The Lord. “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again” (Mk 8:31). The disciples did not understand what He was saying. It was only after the Cross, Resurrection and Pentecost, they finally understood that Jesus was truly the Savior who came to die for them.

The Resurrection of Jesus changed the day of worship. Jesus was crucified on Friday the 1st day (Passover). The 2nd day was Saturday, the Sabbath. The 3rd day was Sunday. He rose again on the 3rd day. The early church started to worship God on Sundays, to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Lord! Selah!

What did the resurrection of Jesus prove to us?

*The Resurrection of Jesus proves that God is Omnipotent. It shows the immense power of God. God created all things. He alone can destroy death and bring Jesus out from the grave. If God could not resurrect Jesus, then He is not worthy of our worship. But He indeed raised Jesus from the dead. “Christ was raised from the dead through the glory and power of the Father” (Rom 6:4; AMP). Glory to God!

*The Resurrection of Jesus proved that Jesus is indeed who He said He is. Jesus is a Man. But not only a Man. He is the Son of God. He is God Himself. Apostle Paul said this: “Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom 1:3,4). What happened to Jesus in the Resurrection? His body and His spirit were reunited, so that He became alive again. That did happen. But there was more: He moved from one stage of His ministry to another, from humiliation to exaltation, from shame to glory! He was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven, where He is seated on the throne of God. By His resurrection, Jesus is now invested with absolute royal power and authority. He is the King of kings. After His resurrection, Jesus could stand on a hill in Galilee and declare, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matt 28:18; AMP).

*The Resurrection of Jesus proved that God the Father has accepted the work of Jesus on earth. God the Father has designed the plan of salvation. God the Son volunteered to perform it on earth. The Holy Spirit applies this revelation to us. What is the major work Jesus did for God the Father? Christ has perfectly obeyed God’s Law!!! Seah! Jesus said: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matt 5:17). “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Rom 10:4). Resurrection is the divine seal that God the Father is satisfied and has approved the sacrifice of Jesus on behalf of sinners. God tells the whole world that His Son has done exactly what He sent Him to do. The plan of salvation by Grace alone is now activated! Praise the Lord!

Since Adam fell, all men are born sinners and lawbreakers. God’s Law was given not to save us, because no sinner can perfectly obey God’s Law. The Law was given so that we know God, what He likes and what He hates. It was also given to show us what sin is, for us to see the terrible power of sin. Finally, the Law was given to direct us to Christ, who is the end of the Law. “O, Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor 15:55-57). The sting of death is sin. If we were not sinners, we would not be afraid to die. Jesus was not afraid to die. Sin is defined and given power because of God’s Law. If God’s law did not say: do not steal, we could not have known that stealing is sin. In Adam, we are all born lawbreakers, sinners. We are afraid to die because we are sinners. We know that after death it is the judgment. No man could perfectly obey God’s Law. But Jesus obeyed the Law perfectly on our behalf. Jesus obeyed the Law in two ways: He obeyed the Law actively. He did not break any of God’s commandments. Love was His only Law. He also obeyed God’s Law passively. God’s Word says that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23). When Jesus took our sins upon Himself, He had to die. He obeyed God’s Law passively, as a lamb led to the slaughter. Actively, and passively, Jesus perfectly obeyed God’s Law. He “fulfilled” or satisfied the Law. The Law cannot argue against us again. If Jesus did not resurrect, it means that our sins were too heavy for Him and He is still in the grave because of that. If Jesus did not resurrect, we are condemned in our sins and have no hope of heaven. But as believers, we become one with Christ, and God sees us as we have obeyed the Law. We now have eternal life. Immediately, we lose the fear of death, judgment and hell. Spiritually, we are raised with Jesus in heavenly places. We praise God forever!

*The resurrection of Jesus proves that our Lord has conquered all His enemies. By the resurrection, God has declared that Jesus Christ is His Son. God now fights all the enemies Jesus has made as Man on earth: sin, death and the devil. Peter preached at Pentecost: “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). He had those titles before. It is not that He became God, for He was God before that. But, because He was obedient unto death, God the Father granted Him the fulfillment of the promise, saying: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet” (Ps 110:1). That enthronement scene and the punishment of Jesus’ enemies began in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead! In Christ, we too have conquered all our enemies. Who are these? Our mortal enemies are the Flesh (sin), the World, and the Devil. Since Adam, every man has been defeated by these three terrible enemies. The Flesh weakens our will. Even with all our good intentions, we cannot please God. With all the voices of unbelief, the world pollutes our spirit and corrupts our faith. The devil attacks our bodies, souls and spirits. No man escapes his ugly grip of darkness. Jesus walked in this same world of sin but never allowed the flesh to control Him. Jesus overcame the world. At the Cross, Jesus exposed the devil as a criminal, a hater of God and of all men. The resurrection of Jesus proves that in Christ, we have victory against all our enemies. Halleluiah!

*The resurrection of Jesus proves that He has defeated even Death itself. He is the King of kings, The Lord of lords, The Great High Priest, and Eternal Intercessor for all believers. He is our Leader even thru death. Jesus is the Best Helper and Friend we can ever have. “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Heb 2:14-18). Jesus is now God and Man in heaven. By the Holy Spirit He helps believers to run the race to the end. His ministry of intercession gives us the assurance of salvation. We can pray to Him. We are never alone. Jesus is our Helper forever. All power and authority have been given to Jesus. God gave the world to Jesus. It is His own. He rules and He reigns forever. Glory to God!

*The resurrection of Jesus gives Christians a living hope that after death, they will go to heaven and worship God forever. “According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1Pet 1:3-4). Hallelujah!

*The Resurrection of Jesus proves that Jesus will come back again to finally judge all evil and resurrect the bodies of the saints. Apostle Paul was telling the philosophers in Athens: “He (God) has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31).

*The Resurrection of Jesus proves that God has sent His Holy Spirit in the name of His Son, to all believers. At Pentecost, Peter preached: “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” (Ac 2:32,33).

How does the resurrection of Jesus help me? Jesus proved that our sin and death could not hold Him in the grave. As we believe in this, we too “die and rise” again in this life. Jesus transforms us by the Holy Spirit, giving us life, hope, power, joy, and godliness. We look more like Him every day. The very power that raised Jesus from the dead is available for those who believe. Apostle Paul prayed that we may know “what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come” (Eph 1:17-21).

Weaknesses are often experienced as limitations, vulnerability, or emotional struggles. These physical or emotional limitations can serve a deeper purpose. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.” (2 Cor 12:9). Living with weaknesses, whether physical infirmities, emotional distress, or spiritual struggles, creates opportunities for experiencing a strength rooted in something greater than ourselves. David was a young inexperienced shepherd, much smaller in stature than Goliath. But he defeated the giant, not by his own strength, but by God’s. God’s power is beyond human understanding. It is revealed especially thru Creation, miracles (the parting of the Red Sea or the falling of Jericho) and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. God’s power is directed towards us, the believers. God wants us to receive this power and apply it in our spiritual growth. This power is not earned. It is a gift of God’s Grace. God gives strength to the weak, to the faithful who wait upon Him to give them strength (Isa 40:29-31). “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (Philip 3:10-11). God’s power manifests as serving God, praying for others, preaching the Gospel. Pray for this power! Humble yourself! Acknowledge your weaknesses. Faith in God is the key to appropriate God’s surpassing power. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philip 4:13). Trust that God will give you the power of Resurrection that raised Jesus from the dead. “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor 12:10). It is the testimony of many believers that God gave them power when they were weak, and they had faith in God. Jesus is now in heaven! He is also in our hearts! “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow!” Worship the Lord!

THE POWER OF RESURRECTION MANIFESTS AS JOYFUL PRAISE IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (Ac 16:25). Paul and Silas were beaten for doing good. At midnight they were in prison singing. Grumbling quenches the miracle. We are commanded to rejoice and praise no matter the situation. That joyful praise comes from the power of resurrection. The jailer was saved, physically and spiritually. They loved the jailer by agape Love and through the power of resurrection. Worship the Lord!

MARY’S FIRST LOVE

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

LOVE IS THE NEW COMMANDMENT (64)/ MARY’S FIRST LOVE

This Sunday service Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached another sermon in the series titled ‘Love is The New Commandment’. Her main scriptures are taken from the books of John 13:34,35; Lk 10:38-42; Acts 6:1-7; John 11:28-36; 12:1-8;

AT HIS FEET – MARY’S FIRST LOVE (Lk 10:38-42)

This is a wonderful story. It shows the priority of spiritual things. Priority is defined as something that is more important than other things. It is an urgent thing. It must be dealt first before attending to other things. In this story, we see Mary seated at the feet of Jesus. Thru her we see the priority given to spiritual things, loving Jesus above all others. Mary was a special person. There are not many details about her. We do not know if she was married or if she had children. But the few words about Mary have created a precious picture. Her memory is preserved. She is an inspiration to all lovers of Jesus to the end of time.

When Jesus was on earth, He had many enemies but few true friends. There was a family who lived in a village called Bethany, just 2 miles from Jerusalem. This family was made from three siblings: Martha (possibly the senior sister), Mary, and their (possibly younger) brother, Lazarus. The name Martha means Lady, Mistress or Madam. The name Mary means Beloved. Lazarus means God has helped me. Martha talks and behaves as the Landlady. She is a symbol of the ministry of helps and hospitality. In the Jewish culture, it was a sacred duty to welcome strangers, to give them food and shelter. Mary is the spiritual one in the family. She shows the priority of spiritual work like prayer, worship, and the study of God’s Word. Their brother Lazarus is quieter. This wonderful family opened their house to Jesus. They loved Him as their Master, Teacher, Mentor and Friend. In their house, Jesus was allowed to be Himself. They did not ask Him to do miracles for entertainment. They loved Him simply, from their hearts. They were the friends of Jesus. The name of their village, Bethany means ‘house of affliction’ or ‘house of figs’. It is now a small town with a population of about 22,000 people.

“She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word”. On this occasion, Jesus and His disciples came to visit them. Mary decided to sit at the feet of Jesus, to listen to His Word. This is the traditional position of a disciple submitting to his master, mentor or rabbi. It was a position of humility and desire to learn. Her position shows that God’s Word has priority over other activities. In Greek, the word ‘sat’ shows a deliberate choice to be close to Jesus, attentive to His words, even if she was to be discriminated because of that. Mary made a choice to be a mature spiritual Christian, to grow in grace and understanding, and to be a true worshipper of Jesus. ‘Mary heard the word’. The word ‘heard’ means listening. It suggests an active, continuous action. Mary was not just hearing the words of Jesus with her ears, but she opened her heart to receive them. It shows hearing and believing. The words of Jesus were spoken with Love and Authority. No man spoke like Jesus! The words had the power to give Eternal Life, to deeply change and transform people. Mary opened ears and heart shows a deep desire to learn divine truth, to have godly wisdom, to Love like Jesus and to be changed from glory to glory.

“But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me.” Martha was busy in the kitchen preparing the dinner for Jesus and the guests. Cooking is never easy. We are told the Martha ‘Was distracted with much serving’. In Greek, the word ‘distracted’ means to drag all around, to be all over the place, to be greatly troubled. To distract it means to draw away your mind, your focus, your attention, from one thing to another. We usually draw away our attention from things we hate to the things we love. We stop thinking about our duty and start thinking about entertainment. Jesus said that Martha was distracted about many things. She was trying to do too many things at the same time. The word ‘serving’ is ‘diakonian’. It means to be a servant, a waiter at the table, a minister or a deacon. The words ‘to care’ means to be concerned, anxious, have an interest. Mary has ‘left’ Martha to serve alone. To leave it means abandon, or to forsake. Alone means solitary, desolate, or single. Martha said: Tell her to help me! The word ‘help’ means to cooperate, to hold the opposite corners together. From these words we see that Martha was serving God by serving men. This is a good work. But she became tired and frustrated. She started grumbling. She was comparing herself with her sister Mary, who sat in the living room, among men, to listen to Jesus. She felt lonely as she was doing ministry. Lesson: This is a common complaint from many pastors and leaders in the church. They know that serving God is a good thing. But they miss the human fellowship, the church ‘gist’. Suddenly, they feel that the Holy Spirit is too ‘spiritual’ and does not understand the frustration of ministry on earth. The Holy Spirit is the Encourager to help us in our loneliness and anxieties of life! Selah!

Jesus replied to busy Martha that one thing is needed. Not many things that bring distraction. Only one thing! And Mary has found that treasure. She has chosen that one good thing. What is that best thing? It is to be one with Jesus! Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to His Word. To sit at His feet means that she submitted to Jesus, to be one with Him. She was ready to receive His Word. Please note that both Martha and Mary are ‘Christians’. The difference was that Mary chose to invest in her soul first. She wanted to attend first to spiritual eternal things for the good of her soul. This was her priority. Her priority was right. After attending to the words of Jesus, she could use the remaining time and strength to do the chores in the house. This was divine wisdom. This was agape Love. Selah!

Jesus calls Mary’s choice ‘the good part’. The good part or the good portion is always a choice. Men and devils cannot take it away from us. Ministry is good. God rewards His servants when they serve Him. But ministry can become a source of distraction from the concentrated focus of studying God’s Word and prayer. I am not saying that Martha is a worldly Christian woman. She loved Jesus too. But because she was the hostess of the home, she felt that she must be more practical. She saw it as her duty to entertain Jesus and the disciples. She wanted to cook many dishes, possibly to impress Jesus with her ministry. But she became anxious in the kitchen. Anxiety made her impatient. She rebuked Jesus saying He does not care. She almost blamed Jesus for encouraging Mary to be lazy and selfish. Lesson: being too busy with the physical needs, leads to anxiety, complaining, and drifting away from spiritual things. The loss is greater than the gain! This is foolish. May we examine ourselves! How do we serve Jesus? What is the place of prayer and the study of God’s Word in our lives?  

Jesus gently rebuked Marth by saying that Mary has chosen the good part, the best part. Comparing the two ministries, studying God’s Word, prayer and worship on one side, and the ministry of helps, provision to the needy and taking care of God’s house, on the other side, the first one has a greater value. The spiritual things have pre-eminence over the natural things. This is a spiritual law. “Therefore, do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men” (Rom 14:16-18). To live we need to eat and drink. But the Kingdom of God is made of eternal spiritual things, righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. We should focus on the spiritual things first, and later, we can attend to the needs of the body. We should not allow anyone to speak evil about the good choice we made, to focus our best on spiritual things.

There two reasons why Jesus gently rebuked Martha: 1-She overdid her work until she became distracted from spiritual things. 2-She stopped appreciating the greater value of spiritual investment. For example, we can bake a cake and present it to a prophet. That is good! But to waste hours decorating that cake with flowers, that may be wrong. A simple tasty cake is better. Cooking many dishes on Sunday morning until you become so tired that you fall asleep during the sermon, that is wrong. A simple meal is better. Use the remaining time to study the Bible, pray, praise God and go to church. Let Jesus always be your first Love! Give Him the best of your Strength and Love!

MARY AT THE TOMB OF LAZARUS – FIRST LOVE IN PAIN (Jn 11:28-36)

Let us study Mary during her time of pain and sorrow. Her brother Lazarus was sick and then, he died. Martha and Mary sent message to Jesus to come and heal their brother. But Jesus came ‘too late’. Lazarus has died and was buried four days ago. The whole house was in deep morning. Then Jesus and His disciples finally come. They stay at a place outside the village. Martha goes to see him. Jesus preaches to her and tells her that resurrection is not an event, but a Person. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. At the end of ‘the sermon’ Martha goes home. She tells Mary: “The Teacher is calling for you”. Mary gets up immediately and goes to meet Jesus. Lesson: during all situations, even in grief, First Love goes to Jesus! The Jews who came to visit and to mourn with the sisters, did not understand why Mary went out in a hurry. Lesson: unbelievers will always misunderstand the actions of First Love. Mary loved Jesus but now, she was struggling with some questions about Jesus. Doubt tried to steal her heart. Why did He not heal her brother… Why did He come so late? But when she saw Jesus, she forgot all her questions and doubts. She fell at His feet. That was the place she knew. That was the access to stand in Grace. Faith returned to her broken heart. She worshipped Jesus. That is the only language of love.

Martha “met” Jesus. But Mary “fell down at the feet of Jesus”. Lesson: Even in pains, in doubts, even when she does not understand what is happening, First Love always worships Jesus. Martha received a good teaching. Mary wept kneeling. From that holy place of faith Mary saw how Jesus was weeping. Mary was touched by the tears of Jesus. Mary saw how Jesus was groaning in His Spirit, being troubled. Why did Jesus’ groan like that? Because He was standing in a place of death. God’s perfect plan for man was Life and not death. But man’s sin brough death on earth. Death was man’s final enemy. It was the enemy of Jesus too. Mary saw how Jesus defeated the power of death by His death. She saw how Jesus called her brother back to life again. Martha received a sermon. Mary received the miracle of Resurrection Life. The Jews said that the weeping of Jesus was a sign of Love. “Then the Jews said, “See how He (Jesus) loved him (Lazarus)!” (Jn 11:36). Yes, Jesus loved Lazarus! Jesus loves us! In few days time, Jesus will pay for the miracle of Life for Lazarus with His own life. This is the greater agape Love, first ever Love, no man can give, and no man can take away. Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). “For love is as strong as death” (SS8:6). Mary witnessed the greatest Love of all.

MARY ANOINTS JESUS FOR HIS BURIAL (Jn 12:1-8)

This is the last time we see Mary of Bethany. There is a thanksgiving party celebrating the resurrection of Lazarus. As usual, Martha was serving food. But this time, she did not complain that Mary left her alone. She has learned her lessons. She was happy to serve food to the guests. She was not jealous on Mary. Jesus was in the house and her brother was alive and well. Everyone was in a happy mood. Well, not everyone… Some Jews came to attend the party as spies. They were not happy about the resurrection of Lazarus. Because of the miracle, many people now believed in Jesus. The Jews were planning how to kill both Jesus and Lazarus. They thought that they could wipe away the proof and even the memory of the miracle. Lesson: the unbelievers hate Jesus and His miracles, but they cannot stop them!

As the celebration was going on, Mary did something strange and totally unexpected. She took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfumed oil. Mark tells us that “She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head” (Mk 14:3). Mary did not just gently open the jar. She broke it. Why? Possibly, because she wanted it to be a sacrificial offering. When a poor man offered a dove to God, the priest used his hands to cut off the bird’s head. Its blood was offered on the altar. In the same way, Mary broke the jar so that all its content was poured on Jesus. Nothing will be left for her. The price of the ointment was 300 silver coins. This was a very expensive perfume. It was worth a year’s wages. Some said that she kept it for her wedding day. If that is true, then that day, standing before Jesus, she let go of her romantic wedding dreams. Judas, the traitor, complained that Mary’s sacrifice was too much. She called it a waste. He said that the money should have been given to the poor. He did not care for the poor but as the treasurer of the group, he wanted to steal the money. Lesson: religious unbelievers come to church but in their hearts, they worship Mamon. They hinder the true worship of God. They hate the First Love! Jesus defended Mary’s action. He accepted her sacrificial offering. He said that Mary prepared Him for burial. He also said that the poor people will always be around, but He will not always be with them. The door of opportunity to worship Him will not always be opened. Again, Mary chose to do the best thing!

Question: why did Mary worship Jesus with her sacrificial offering? During the party, Jesus was thinking about the Cross. In six days, He will be crucified and die a shameful death. Martha loved Jesus but she did not understand His loneliness and pain. She was happy because of what she saw: Jesus was in the house and her brother Lazarus was alive. To her, nothing else matters. But as the party was on, Mary sensed the loneliness of Jesus, His pain for the soon coming Cross. That is why she offered Him something prepared for His burial. This is amazing. As everyone was laughing, drinking, eating, singing and dancing, Mary understood the pains of Jesus. Where could she have gained such a sensitivity? Surely, at His feet. Each time she stayed at His feet, she not only heard His words, His teachings, but she felt His breath, His heart, His tears. Lesson: Intimacy with Jesus develops deep spiritual sensitivity. First Love imparts genuine Love, religion knows nothing about. By connecting with His heart, by her sacrificial offering, by her worship, Mary encouraged Jesus. God used Mary to tell Jesus that He is not alone. That the terrible price to be paid to redeem sinners is worth it. This is an amazing moment in the life of Jesus! Paul said: “I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for His body, the church” (Col 1:24). God bless Mary! May God bless all who desire to participate in the sufferings of Jesus and to encourage Jesus! Worship the Lord!

“Down at Your feet, oh Lord

Is the most high place

In Your presence, Lord

I seek Your face, seek Your face…

There is no higher calling, no greater honour

Than to bow and kneel before Your throne

I am amazed at Your glory, embraced by Your mercy

Oh Lord, I live to worship You!”

(By Jonathan Butler)