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PONDER:

Matthew 26:6-16

REFLECTION:

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar – wait, push the pause button.  Did I just skim right over the fact that Jesus was in the home of a man who had previously had leprosy? This man had most certainly been in quarantine in that era, and experienced being cast out from his community because of his skin disease. How long had it been since he could host a dinner party at his home?  And now I’m wondering, was Jesus the one who healed him?  
Our Ross Road Kids very recently studied the Bible lesson featuring leprosy.  Jesus, while on the way to Jerusalem, took the time to heal ten men with leprosy. The only one who came back to thank Jesus at that time was a Samaritan. He certainly must have been doubly outcast for his disease and his heritage, and therefore, maybe he was doubly grateful!  Now we have Simon the Leper, no longer a leper.  Was he part of that group, and is he now thanking Jesus? Or had he perhaps heard of these others and thought to himself, “Wow, I’d really like to show Jesus how grateful I am to be healed.  Maybe I can invite him to dinner.”
While this dinner was happening, a woman came to Jesus with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume.  Lavish love and gratitude poured out on Jesus during a dinner of gratitude.
And then we’ve got a terrible misunderstanding about whether or not it’s a waste to lavish love on the Lord.  Our disgruntled disciple, Judas, decides to act on his bitterness, greed, impatience for the deposing of Rome … and off he goes to see how he can force the matter, which leads him down the path to betraying Jesus.  Gut-wrenching.

Who have I emulated, and who am I going to emulate from this passage?  

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, on us as Your people and the sheep of Your pasture, Gentle Shepherd.  We are not always following You as lovingly as we want to.  We have not been as merciful as You; we have judged others; we have betrayed You with flippant idolatry; we have allowed bitterness and a host of other weeds in the garden of our hearts.  And we are seriously so done with that weed-patch, Jesus.  Please be our Shepherd and our Great Gardener.  Forgive us, and cleanse us, and remind us of the extravagant cost of that forgiveness, that we would greatly value You, and lavish our love on You, as You so richly deserve. 

PRACTICE:

What might I do this week for Jesus, or in the name of Jesus, perhaps for “one of the least of these,” to thankfully, beautifully pour out His lavish love?  Give testimony of His faithfulness in my life?  Invite someone to dinner?  Donate to Union Gospel Mission for their Easter dinner campaign?  Lavish the precious commodity of extra time on Jesus in my devotions?  Extra time on someone else?  Breathe in gratitude and breathe out grace.