A Glorious Fragrance

"Then Mary 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 oil."

John 12:3

The worthiness of Jesus Christ to be praised and worshipped is awe inspiring.  Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus, anointed the feet of Jesus with costly perfume as He and His disciples visited them for dinner.  As I considered the passage in light of what happened in the previous chapter, it marked an incredible change in Mary.

After Lazarus died of an illness and had been buried four days, Jesus and His disciples came to Bethany and found a town in mourning.  Martha initially came to meet Jesus, and later (seemingly with reluctance!) Mary did as well.  Both sisters expressed regret Jesus had not been there before Lazarus died, for they were confident Jesus could have healed him.  What they did not comprehend was Jesus intentionally did not return until Lazarus was dead and buried so people would come to know and believe Jesus had been sent by God as Messiah by miraculously raising Lazarus to life.

They drew near to the tomb where the body of Lazarus lay, and Jesus commanded the stone to be moved away.  Martha was opposed to unsealing the tomb because it was filled with the stench of death and decay.  John 11:40 reads, "Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"  By faith and obedience to Christ, the stone was rolled away and the pungent smell of death wafted out.  It was shortly thereafter, Jesus having prayed a simple prayer to the Father and called Lazarus by name, the man who was dead four days walked out of the tomb, alive and well.

It struck me that Mary did not use her precious perfume to mask the smell of her brother Lazarus in the tomb.  Perhaps she wrestled with the decision, to anoint the body of Lazarus or to save it for herself.  Was it wasteful to anoint a dead man who could not appreciate it?  After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, however, she realised Jesus was the one worthy of so precious a gift--much to the dismay of Judas who viewed the perfume poured out as a gross waste--costing a worker's annual wage.  The fact Mary did not use this perfume on her brother or save it for herself shows how highly she valued Jesus Christ, and He commended her for choosing to freely pour it on upon Him.  The fragrance filled the whole house.

Judas suggested a better use of the perfume would have been to sell it and give the proceeds to the poor, not because he cared for the poor but would have used it to enrich himself.  John 12:7-8 says, "But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. ⁸ For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."  Mary did not use the perfume for her brother's burial after he died, but she poured out the perfume on Jesus before He died.  She seized the opportunity to bless and worship Jesus through her costly gift, and she is an inspiration for all Christians who say we believe Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, the Messiah sent by God to seek and save the lost.  As we have opportunity, we can give to those in need as unto the LORD Jesus.

The problems of poverty are a permanent blight upon the earth, and no amount of giving will "solve" the problem.  But this means we always will have the opportunity to demonstrate we treasure Jesus Christ above everyone else when we feed the hungry, offer a drink to the thirsty, provide hospitality for strangers, clothe the naked, visit those who are sick and in prison.  Our gifts and service to God are not limited to these specific acts, but Jesus commends those who freely walk in His love towards others as He demonstrated and commanded us.  By the indwelling Holy Spirit, our LORD will guide us to give and serve that He be glorified.  Like the perfume Mary poured out, may our lives be a sweet smelling fragrance to our LORD Jesus Christ because we value Him over all.

Examining our Heart

Being God, Jesus was able to look upon people and knew their hearts perfectly, and He discerned their true motivation for what they said and did.  He saw through their facade of devotion and saw fickleness they would have denied if confronted.  What goes on in the hearts and minds of other people is usually unclear to us when we are at our most perceptive, and this can go for our own hearts as well.  Jesus asked a series of questions to prompt people to consider their motivation for going into the wilderness to see John in Matthew 11:7-9:  "As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸ But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. ⁹ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet."

People did not tramp out to the wilderness to catch a glimpse of a reed blowing in the breeze or to see a man clothed in soft garments.  They went to see John because they believed he could be a prophet of God--some wondered if he was perhaps even the promised Messiah!  John was a righteous man marked by the fear of God, unmoved by the fear of man, a throwback to the prophet Elijah who was identified by his rough clothing.  While many people were convinced John was a prophet, heard him preach repentance from sin and were baptised by him, some religious rulers did not believe John was of God.  When they challenged Jesus concerning His authority to teach, Jesus countered with a question if John's baptism was of heaven or men.  This left them in a quandary as Luke 20:5-7 says:  "And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' ⁶ But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet." ⁷ So they answered that they did not know where it was from."  A good question for those religious rulers to consider was, what did they go into the temple to see?  To worship and honour God?  To criticise or find fault with a Rabbi from Nazareth or to receive the Gospel taught by the Son of God?

It is a good practice for us to examine the motivations of our hearts concerning what we are looking for and why.  Eve drew near to the tree forbidden by God to gaze upon forbidden fruit, and Samson went into a vineyard presumably to look for grapes which were off the menu as a Nazarite from the womb.  They would have done well to ask themselves as they headed towards temptation to sin, "What am I looking for?"  We ought to say the same thing when we turn on the computer, pick up a phone, browse the internet or go to church.  There may be aisles in the local shops that present temptation for us, and it undermines our resolve and self-control to see if items we want to avoid are on special.  Today I saw an ad campaign to "Stop hunger," yet it struck me hunger is a natural and healthy bodily response in people who have well-stocked pantries.  The issue (spiritually speaking) is even after we are born again our flesh naturally longs for satisfaction through sin that will never satisfy.  Looking at the fruit did not scratch the rebellious itch Eve, Samson or we can have.

When we go to church or open our Bibles to read, we also can ask ourselves:  "What am I going to see?"  Are we going to hear the word of God preached, to hear the LORD speak to us that we might heed Him, to edify the Body of Christ through fellowship?  A pastor may go to church because it is his job, and another goes because he seeks to answer God's call to preach by obedience.  Do we serve God to make a name for ourselves or to exalt the name of Jesus Christ?  Do we invest ourselves in spiritual labours because we want to see people, our situations or the world change--or because we are being changed by God by the power of the Holy Spirit?  The LORD knows our hearts and knows well every wicked way in us, and by His grace God reveals our continuous need for repentance of sin, humility, meekness and to surrender ourselves to Him.  Since we believe the Bible is God's word and the church is the Body of Christ, we ought to follow the Holy Spirit's leading to obey God and love one another.

Peaceable Fruit of Righteousness

Early in my insulator apprenticeship we were urged to make a positive impression by being on time, working hard and having a good attitude because the reputation made as an apprentice would stick for the next 10 years!  Apprentices who were late, lazy or arrogant would find it difficult to ditch their sullied reputations that were set in stone even when they worked hard to redeem themselves.  King Solomon wrote a similar thing in Proverbs 20:11:  "Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right."  Parents play a larger role than they may think in raising their children in the knowledge of God by their love, faithfulness and consistency in following Christ.

This morning I spent some time continuing to dig up stumps and roots that enmeshed themselves in retaining walls.  Once established, trees are not the easiest plants to remove--but it crossed my mind how much easier the removal of the stumps would have been if they had not been left to grow in their original locations for 6 years.  One tree in a storm battered the guttering on the second story to pieces, and two other trees worked to destroy a wall to its foundations.  Proverbs 22:6 gives a valuable principle:  "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."  A wise parent not only considers the present rebellious behaviour in their children, but considers where it will eventually lead.  As the tree grows vertically, roots are also being put down and spreading out to better anchor it.  My tree situation illustrates what may seem an acceptable location when immature can prove to be disastrous in coming years.

As hard as it may be to train children in the way they should go, it is best to start this as soon as a child has understanding and be consistent with some basic principles.  With God's help and example as the best heavenly Father, we should do as we say without going back on our word.  Our inconsistency can hamstring our best efforts when we do not assert ourselves as the parent with unwavering discipline.  People do not seem to comprehend how they train their children to disobey when they continue to repeat directives rather than enforcing what they initially said:  say it once, and ensure there are prompt,  appropriate consequences when there is not immediate obedience.  Counting to three is a great way to undermine your authority as a parent, for you are enforcing disobedience and rebellion is permissible until the magic word "Three!" is uttered.  An occasional warning is fine, but do not threaten.  Follow through by doing exactly as you said!  The instant you sense a willful choice to disregard what you have said, take immediate disciplinary action.  Discipline should be a given, not a surprise.

Chastening is not pleasant for parent or child (even when in their best interest), but it yields good fruit in the end.  As the writer of Hebrews said in Hebrews 12:11, "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."  A parent may shrink from displeasing their child, but the rotten fruit of this negligence can be seen when David failed to displease his son Adonijah at any time by asking, "Why have you done this?" As a consequence there was no boundary provided to guide him from following in the footsteps of his rebellious brother Absalom (1 Kings 1:6).  Your role as a parent is not to give them whatever they want or even to please them:  your call and responsibility is to please God by raising your children in the admonition of the LORD (Ephesians 6:4).  This means to lovingly instruct and put them in their proper place, to teach them to honour their father and mother as you humbly submit to your Father in heaven.

Awake in Christ's Likeness

What rest and peace God gives those who trust in Him who only does wondrous things!  In an ever changing world Christians have an anchor for our souls forever in Jesus Christ who loves us and has given us exceedingly great and precious promises.  His resurrection from the dead and ascension in glory gives us confidence through the Gospel our sins are forgiven, we have been justified by faith, and have a sure hope of eternal life in His presence.

When the church was birthed in the book of Acts after Jesus ascended to heaven, Christians faced intense persecution in Jerusalem:  none of the apostles, deacons or unnamed disciples were exempt.  It was not like the church was an organisation where leaders were insulated from the threat of beatings, arrests or execution as they were primary targets of those who hated and killed Jesus.  A man filled with the Holy Spirit named Stephen was falsely accused of speaking blasphemy against the Temple and the Law of Moses, and he was hauled before the Sanhedrin for examination.  His divinely inspired proclamation of truth can be read in Acts 7 that enraged his hearers and resulted in him being martyred for Christ's sake.

As Stephen's eyes were opened to see heaven opened and Jesus Christ standing in glory, the respectable mask of the Sanhedrin slipped and revealed them to be a murderous, hateful mob against Christ and His disciples.  They screamed, covered their ears, rushed upon him, cast Stephen out of the city and stoned Him to death.  Acts 7:59-60 tells us, "And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." ⁶⁰ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep."  In the midst of murderous chaos, Stephen was the one at peace and full of forgiveness.  Without regard for himself or any attempt to dodge the large stones hurled at him from all around, Stephen knelt and prayed with a loud voice to intercede for those who were killing him--even as Jesus had from the cross.  Suddenly a stone hit the mark, and Stephen fell asleep.  The implication is those who sleep will wake.  Though Stephen died, through faith in Jesus Christ he lives now and forever.

I was reminded of this as I read Psalm 17:15:  "As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness."  Christians have the wondrous expectation that when our eyes close in death, we will awake in the likeness of Christ--satisfied, sinless, glorified and immortal!  Having been deemed righteous by faith in Jesus, there is no fear in death because our Saviour has defeated it.  Our death happened before our birth when Jesus Christ died on the cross, and having been born again and raised with Christ He now lives through us.  Since our death spiritually speaking is in the past, we have only life before us we will enjoy with Him and His people forever.  One day our eyes will close, and miraculously when we open them pain, trouble and sorrow will be a thing of the past, not remembered nor will come into mind, for we have been made new creations by God's grace through faith in Jesus.

Let us not be like those who are asleep spiritually as Paul exhorted believers in 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11:  "Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸ But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. ¹¹ Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing."