Life Source - Week 5 - Day 2 ** John 12: 1 - 11

Our reading today is John 12: 1 - 11.  This may be a familiar story ... but as you read this time, do it slowly ... savoring the emotion, the sensations, the aromas of the scene.  After you read, come back and we will consider each of these 3 friends of Jesus and what we can learn from them.

It is nearing Passover and Jesus is heading back to Jerusalem.  The "hour" has come.  Before entering the city, Jesus stops in Bethany where His dear friends gather with him for supper.  See His humanity.  What a wonderful, peaceful moment for Jesus before the trauma of the next week hits.  Jesus is in a comfortable place.  He is with His friends. 

There are three siblings in this scene - Mary, Martha and Lazarus (back from the dead, remember!)  We read first of Martha in verse 2.  She was serving ... she was using her particular set of gifts to serve her Lord.  We read of Martha also in Luke 10: 38 - 42.  She was serving a meal at that time as well.  A key element in the Luke story is in verse 40: "But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone?'"
Martha has grown in her relationship with the Lord.  I think the revelations she received from Jesus in chapter 11 have grown her up.  He is truly the "Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world."  And now watch what is happening in chapter 12 ... Martha is still serving a meal ... she is still using her considerable gifts ... but the complaining is gone!  I think, perhaps, she now counts it a privilege to serve the Lord ... not a duty or a burden.  How I want to be like that!! 

Using her God-given gifts and abilities ... her work ... as a service to the Lord.  What a privilege. 

We also see Lazarus in verse 2.  All we know is that he was there, at the table.  People were coming to see him.  DUH!! They want to hear the story first hand.  I would to!  They want to see him and hear him.  We don't know of Lazarus' words at that dinner table ... but my imagination can piece together the buzz and conversation going on. Lazarus telling ... over and over ... the walking out of that tomb ... seeing light ... seeing his sisters ... seeing his Lord!  Telling the story is "bearing witness to the work of God in his life."  That's what it means to "witness" - tell your story.  Tell how Jesus has come to you ... what He has done for you ... why you love Him. 

Telling your story with God ... for the glory of God ... being a witness.  What a privilege.

The third sibling is Mary.  I think she may have been about the only one who took Jesus' predictions about His necessary death to heart.  She believed Him about that ... and knew it was soon.  I see Mary so overcome with the desire to worship and adore her Lord ... that she anointed Him with the perfume.  It most likely was his entire body, not just His feet.  (see Matthew 26: 6 - 13 and Mark 14: 3 - 9 for parallel accounts of the event)  Can you imagine the aroma?  Can you feel the silence that must have descended in the room?  Would you have been embarrassed watching it?  After all, Mary untied her hair ... custom required women to only let their hair down in the privacy of their own bedrooms.  This is a pure act of adoration, devotion and worship.  There are some things to notice about this action of Mary:

1. It was public
2. It was spontaneous
3. It was sacrificial
4. It was lavish
5. It was personal
6. It was un-embarrassed
7. Others misunderstood and criticized

And Jesus called it "beautiful!"  (Matthew 26 account)  

Have you ever criticized someone else's worship?  Called it "undignified" or "showing off"?  This story screams to me that such criticism is unacceptable!  You do not know the heart of anyone ... we even struggle with knowing our own hearts.  How dare we presume that we can pass judgement on someones worship ... someones devotion and adoration of their God? 

My challenge for us ... stop it!  When the temptation looms in your heart ... divert your eyes ... refocus on your own, personal heart worship ... ask God to forgive your spirit of criticism ... think of Mary. 

Worshiping the Lord your God ... with ALL ... expressing your complete devotion to Him.  What a privilege.

The three elements that we see illustrated by the friends of Jesus in this passage can represent for us the elements that we would do well to emulate.  There is our work, illustrated by Martha.  Is your work done for the glory of God?  There is our witness, illustrated by Lazarus.  Do you give glory to God by telling your story to anyone?  And there is our worship, illustrated by Mary.  Do you pour out your heart and devotion to God through worship or are you going through the motions?

Warren Wiersbe says, "Actually, the Christian life ought to be a beautiful balance of worship, work, and witness." 

Lord, we seek that balance this week.  Give each of us an opportunity to speak to someone this week about Your part in our lives.  May we work without complaining this week ... knowing that, actually, we work for You.  And may we worship with the kind of lavish abandon that Mary demonstrated for us so beautifully.  May you smell that sweet aroma from our hearts as well.