A Beautiful Thing
Read John 12:1-11
As we continue to sit at the feet of Jesus and marvel at His goodness, what has He been speaking to you? How have you felt His presence this week as you have spent time communing with Him? Have you been captured by His holiness?
I have enjoyed studying God's Word so much this week. One thing that has been a blessing during this time of transition, is the amount of time that I have to devote to Bible study. Since I am currently unemployed, I am blessed to be full time employed by the Holy Spirit! He is teaching me so much on this journey with you! Let's continue to pray for wisdom and clarity as we study His Word together.
Have you ever been to a dinner party? You know, the kind with fine china, flowers and many guests? This is what I imagine when I read this portion of scripture. Jesus had gone to Bethany to visit friends and was the guest of honor at dinner. As he was reclining at the table, "Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume." (John 12:3)
Mary received much criticism from this action. The disciples questioned her and Judas, who later betrayed Christ, objected the loudest. He felt as though this was ridiculous since the perfume was worth a whole year's wages. He felt as though it was wasted. However, Mary did as she felt led in her heart. She washed the feet of her Savior as an act of devotion to Him. This act also showed her humility, because it was customary in that day for a servant to attend the feet. Mary did not care what they thought. She did not care that it was not "custom," and she did not care that it cost her an entire year's wages. At that moment, she was at the Savior's feet and she was fully surrendered to Him.
What was the Lord's response? Jesus replied, "Leave her alone!" (vs. 7). Don't you love it when our Daddy, Abba comes to our rescue? I remember as a little girl thinking my Daddy was the strongest person in the world and no matter what the situation, he could save me. Well, as I grew up, I realized that my Dad was strong and he would always do whatever he could to help me, but he could not save me. There was only one person who could save me and that was Jesus Christ, my Heavenly Father. I am sure that Mary was delighted when Jesus came to her rescue. For this was not the first time He had rescued her, he had rescued her from her sin.
I love the passage as recorded in Mark 14:1-10. It says that she came with "an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume" (Mark 14:3). Jesus said, "She has done a beautiful thing to me." (Mark 14:6) Isn't it ironic that the Most High, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords said that what she did for Him was beautiful? I can't imagine what she must have felt that day. How the tears must have flown as she listened to their whispers, their criticism. But she didn't let it stop her. She stayed focused on the Savior and poured herself out. She knew deep inside the true cost of her alabaster box. It was much more than expensive perfume, it represented her sin that He had taken away. Praise God!! HE was the beautiful One!
What is in your alabaster box? What price did Jesus pay for your soul? My sweet ones, Your Daddy came to rescue you and He deserves all the praise! He is worthy! I love the words to the song Alabaster Box by Cece Winans. Read the lyrics below and allow the Holy Spirit to speak directly to your heart. Pour out your praise and love to Him. Allow your offering to be a sweet aroma that fills the room. O what a beautiful thing!
Alabaster Box
The room grew still
As she made her way to Jesus
She stumbles through the tears that made her blind
She felt such pain
Some spoke in anger
Heard folks whisper
There's no place here for her kind
Still on she came
Through the shame that flushed her face
Until at last, she knelt before his feet
And though she spoke no words
Everything she said was heard
As she poured her love for the Master
From her box of alabaster
And I've come to pour
My praise on Him
Like oil from Mary's alabaster box
Don't be angry if I wash his feet with my tears
And I dry them with my hair
You weren't there the night He found me
You did not feel what I felt
When he wrapped his love all around me and
You don't know the cost of the oil
In my alabaster box
I can't forget the way life used to be
I was a prisoner to the sin that had me bound
And I spent my days
Poured my life without measure
Into a little treasure box
I'd thought I'd found
Until the day when Jesus came to me
And healed my soul
With the wonder of His touch
So now I'm giving back to Him
All the praise He's worthy of
I've been forgiven
And that's why
I love Him so much
And I've come to pour
My praise on Him
Like oil from Mary's alabaster box
Don't be angry if I wash his feet with my tears
And dry them with my hair
You weren't there the night Jesus found me
You did not feel what I felt
When He wrapped his loving arms around me and
You don't know the cost of the oil
Oh, you don't know the cost of my praise
You don't know the cost of the oil
In my alabaster box
I am so thankful that Jesus saved my soul! I am thankful that He wrapped His loving arms around me. O how I love Jesus and O how I love my Journey Girls! You, sweet ones, are BEAUTIFUL
Humbled by His Grace,
Elisabeth
As we continue to sit at the feet of Jesus and marvel at His goodness, what has He been speaking to you? How have you felt His presence this week as you have spent time communing with Him? Have you been captured by His holiness?
I have enjoyed studying God's Word so much this week. One thing that has been a blessing during this time of transition, is the amount of time that I have to devote to Bible study. Since I am currently unemployed, I am blessed to be full time employed by the Holy Spirit! He is teaching me so much on this journey with you! Let's continue to pray for wisdom and clarity as we study His Word together.
Have you ever been to a dinner party? You know, the kind with fine china, flowers and many guests? This is what I imagine when I read this portion of scripture. Jesus had gone to Bethany to visit friends and was the guest of honor at dinner. As he was reclining at the table, "Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume." (John 12:3)
Mary received much criticism from this action. The disciples questioned her and Judas, who later betrayed Christ, objected the loudest. He felt as though this was ridiculous since the perfume was worth a whole year's wages. He felt as though it was wasted. However, Mary did as she felt led in her heart. She washed the feet of her Savior as an act of devotion to Him. This act also showed her humility, because it was customary in that day for a servant to attend the feet. Mary did not care what they thought. She did not care that it was not "custom," and she did not care that it cost her an entire year's wages. At that moment, she was at the Savior's feet and she was fully surrendered to Him.
What was the Lord's response? Jesus replied, "Leave her alone!" (vs. 7). Don't you love it when our Daddy, Abba comes to our rescue? I remember as a little girl thinking my Daddy was the strongest person in the world and no matter what the situation, he could save me. Well, as I grew up, I realized that my Dad was strong and he would always do whatever he could to help me, but he could not save me. There was only one person who could save me and that was Jesus Christ, my Heavenly Father. I am sure that Mary was delighted when Jesus came to her rescue. For this was not the first time He had rescued her, he had rescued her from her sin.
I love the passage as recorded in Mark 14:1-10. It says that she came with "an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume" (Mark 14:3). Jesus said, "She has done a beautiful thing to me." (Mark 14:6) Isn't it ironic that the Most High, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords said that what she did for Him was beautiful? I can't imagine what she must have felt that day. How the tears must have flown as she listened to their whispers, their criticism. But she didn't let it stop her. She stayed focused on the Savior and poured herself out. She knew deep inside the true cost of her alabaster box. It was much more than expensive perfume, it represented her sin that He had taken away. Praise God!! HE was the beautiful One!
What is in your alabaster box? What price did Jesus pay for your soul? My sweet ones, Your Daddy came to rescue you and He deserves all the praise! He is worthy! I love the words to the song Alabaster Box by Cece Winans. Read the lyrics below and allow the Holy Spirit to speak directly to your heart. Pour out your praise and love to Him. Allow your offering to be a sweet aroma that fills the room. O what a beautiful thing!
Alabaster Box
The room grew still
As she made her way to Jesus
She stumbles through the tears that made her blind
She felt such pain
Some spoke in anger
Heard folks whisper
There's no place here for her kind
Still on she came
Through the shame that flushed her face
Until at last, she knelt before his feet
And though she spoke no words
Everything she said was heard
As she poured her love for the Master
From her box of alabaster
And I've come to pour
My praise on Him
Like oil from Mary's alabaster box
Don't be angry if I wash his feet with my tears
And I dry them with my hair
You weren't there the night He found me
You did not feel what I felt
When he wrapped his love all around me and
You don't know the cost of the oil
In my alabaster box
I can't forget the way life used to be
I was a prisoner to the sin that had me bound
And I spent my days
Poured my life without measure
Into a little treasure box
I'd thought I'd found
Until the day when Jesus came to me
And healed my soul
With the wonder of His touch
So now I'm giving back to Him
All the praise He's worthy of
I've been forgiven
And that's why
I love Him so much
And I've come to pour
My praise on Him
Like oil from Mary's alabaster box
Don't be angry if I wash his feet with my tears
And dry them with my hair
You weren't there the night Jesus found me
You did not feel what I felt
When He wrapped his loving arms around me and
You don't know the cost of the oil
Oh, you don't know the cost of my praise
You don't know the cost of the oil
In my alabaster box
I am so thankful that Jesus saved my soul! I am thankful that He wrapped His loving arms around me. O how I love Jesus and O how I love my Journey Girls! You, sweet ones, are BEAUTIFUL
Humbled by His Grace,
Elisabeth
2 Response to A Beautiful Thing
Ah, Elisabeth. I was just sitting down to blog about this very thing!! The Lord has been taking me on a very introspective journey lately, feeling pretty alone here lately. And today as I was praying, this story of Mary came to mind, and how she must have felt at that time. Alone. Discouraged. Isolated. Yet loved by her Savior. Amazing, the grace found in Christ!! Thanks for sharing!!
Alyson,
I love and appreciate you so much! I am praying for you on your journey and I want you to know that I am always here for you. (Just a phone call away). You are loved and you are not alone! God is so good!!
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