Alabaster Box
S - Scripture: Matthew 26:1-75
"There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat ..." v.7.
O - Observations:
Imagine in your mind a play or a TV show in one moment in two different places you have Jesus talking with His disciples telling them what is coming about Passover and His own death and in the same moment on a split screen you can see the counsel of chief priests, scribes and elders meeting together to discuss Yeshua's death. In my mind it is like Jesus who we read early in Matthew knew the hearts and minds of those challenging Him was knowing what was going on in that meeting and telling His disciples to prepare them just as we might prepare our own children for something that is upcoming, trying to explain it to them that they might understand and be prepared.
The next scene is Jesus in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper and the woman with the alabaster box ... I love this scene so much, perhaps because it is a woman (and I can obviously relate there) or perhaps from the songs that have been written on the subject, at any rate I love this because here she is kneeling at His feet annointing him, broken before Him, crying (we women do this well!) and then undoing her hair and wiping her tears from His feet.
What I had never seen though before was v.10 "When Jesus understood "... Jesus, Yeshua, had to come to an understanding of why she was doing this ... He had to have intimate understanding from the Father through the Spirit of what was taking place here and once He truly understood He could not only explain it to His disciples, but then also experience it for what it was ... this must have moved the compassionate heart of Jesus!
After Judas sees this thing taking place he takes his leave and goes to the counsel meeting and in listening to their rantings steps up and makes an offer and sells Jesus for 30 pieces of silver ~ note the similarities here of Joseph who was sold into slavery for 20 pieces of silver (Gen. 37:28).
Now we have Judas sneaking around trying to find an opportunity to hand Jesus over to the authorities and Jesus and the other disciples getting ready for the Passover. This Passover however there would be a different Lamb ...
Jesus of course having some knowledge of others knows of Judas' plan and calls him out at the dinner table that night ... "one of you shall betray me" v.21. Of course this accusation brought on alot of squabbling at the table and questioning "Is it me?"
And then Jesus and His disciples take the Passover meal and Jesus reminds them that each time they do Passover they are to remember that it represents what Christ was about to do for each of them. And then these 12 men and Jesus sang a hymn and headed to the Mount of Olives.
As the night wore on Jesus began to get sorrowful and his heart began to get heavy. He knew what had to take place and He began to wrestle (perhaps like Jacob) and just submitting His fleshly will to the Father "not what I desire, but what you desire" ... v.39. Not my will but Your's be done. Can we say this in our circumstances?
Then He comes out during His time of prayer to find His closest friends, His buddies, asleep and He tells them to watch and pray ... "the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak". We think often that this statement applied to the disciples and their sleepiness, but I really think He is asking them to pray for HIS flesh. Jesus was saying my spirit is willing to die for You and the whole world - to become the Perfect Lamb, but my flesh is so weak.
Jesus went back three times and each time praying and petitioning the Father for another way, but each time willingly submitting to whatever the Father wanted. Even though Jesus wanted a different way, He was willing to do it God's way.
After a third time of prayer and understanding that this was the way it had to be He came out and told His disciples "rest".
You see when there is nothing else we can do after a time of prayer what else can you do, but to rest in that decision. I don't mean to suggest Jesus went to the cross with a smile like a happy, obedient child like my daughter will sometimes get "Okay, mommy" she will say in her "happy voice", "I can do that mommy". No, I don't think it was like that.
As He approached the cross minute by minute, each step He made in that direction a little of Him died. Jesus knew the Scriptures and no doubt as He was praying that night His spirit in Him was being quickened and shown the words of the prophets and all that must take place. (v.54, 56).
Now all but Peter leaves Him and Peter travels at a distance trying to make himself obscure and Jesus, Yeshua, is put on trial and a false one at best. No doubt the witnesses against Him which Scripture tells us were "false witnesses" were somehow "paid off" to bring their testimonies. But Jesus held his peace.
And Peter denied Christ ...
A - Application for me today:
I do not mean to belittle what Christ went through and CERTAINLY nothing we are asked to give up can pale in comparison, but when Jesus asks us to give up something, perhaps a relationship, our home, our church, a position we have held, a sin such as overeating (gluttony) or some other addiction and asks us to start obeying Him perhaps by moving to a new location, another job or acting in ways that honor Him ... when He asks us something hard and we really have to submit our wills to His we might be a little solemn about it. I was convicted last week about some ways I wasn't honoring my husband, it hurt my heart that I was not honoring him, but as I began to submit my will to God's and to start being the help-meet I was created to be it wasn't easy - I wasn't all happy about it (not because I didn't want to honor my husband, but because it meant I had to put aside perhaps what I wanted to do and my own selfishness and pride ...) and whenever I was walking through that fire of purification, and it was a hot one, I had to bite my tongue a little and just do what I was being asked to do (by God) and with each action a little more of "me" (my will) was dying, but in return ... (ahhhh) in return I found myself rewarded! At every turn I was rewarded ... I came home a few days later to find the dishes done, the laundry a good bit under way, the puppy bathed and lunch being prepared ...
After all He has done for us and if you watched the video clips you might have a better understanding, at least visually, what He did for you ... how little we are asked to give in return ...
P - Prayer in response:
Thank you is not enough for what you endured for the sake of our salvation. How can I do anything, but give you all of me?
THE LOVE DARE CHALLENGE
Day 11: Love cherishes (to hold dear, to treasure, to treat with affection or tenderness, to care for, to protect).
Husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. —Ephesians 5:28
TODAY’S DARE
What need does your spouse have that you could meet today? Can you run an errand? Give a back rub or foot massage? Is there housework you could help with? Choose a gesture that says, “I cherish you” and do it with a smile.
S - Scripture: Matthew 26:1-75
"There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat ..." v.7.
O - Observations:
Imagine in your mind a play or a TV show in one moment in two different places you have Jesus talking with His disciples telling them what is coming about Passover and His own death and in the same moment on a split screen you can see the counsel of chief priests, scribes and elders meeting together to discuss Yeshua's death. In my mind it is like Jesus who we read early in Matthew knew the hearts and minds of those challenging Him was knowing what was going on in that meeting and telling His disciples to prepare them just as we might prepare our own children for something that is upcoming, trying to explain it to them that they might understand and be prepared.
The next scene is Jesus in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper and the woman with the alabaster box ... I love this scene so much, perhaps because it is a woman (and I can obviously relate there) or perhaps from the songs that have been written on the subject, at any rate I love this because here she is kneeling at His feet annointing him, broken before Him, crying (we women do this well!) and then undoing her hair and wiping her tears from His feet.
What I had never seen though before was v.10 "When Jesus understood "... Jesus, Yeshua, had to come to an understanding of why she was doing this ... He had to have intimate understanding from the Father through the Spirit of what was taking place here and once He truly understood He could not only explain it to His disciples, but then also experience it for what it was ... this must have moved the compassionate heart of Jesus!
After Judas sees this thing taking place he takes his leave and goes to the counsel meeting and in listening to their rantings steps up and makes an offer and sells Jesus for 30 pieces of silver ~ note the similarities here of Joseph who was sold into slavery for 20 pieces of silver (Gen. 37:28).
Now we have Judas sneaking around trying to find an opportunity to hand Jesus over to the authorities and Jesus and the other disciples getting ready for the Passover. This Passover however there would be a different Lamb ...
Jesus of course having some knowledge of others knows of Judas' plan and calls him out at the dinner table that night ... "one of you shall betray me" v.21. Of course this accusation brought on alot of squabbling at the table and questioning "Is it me?"
And then Jesus and His disciples take the Passover meal and Jesus reminds them that each time they do Passover they are to remember that it represents what Christ was about to do for each of them. And then these 12 men and Jesus sang a hymn and headed to the Mount of Olives.
As the night wore on Jesus began to get sorrowful and his heart began to get heavy. He knew what had to take place and He began to wrestle (perhaps like Jacob) and just submitting His fleshly will to the Father "not what I desire, but what you desire" ... v.39. Not my will but Your's be done. Can we say this in our circumstances?
Then He comes out during His time of prayer to find His closest friends, His buddies, asleep and He tells them to watch and pray ... "the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak". We think often that this statement applied to the disciples and their sleepiness, but I really think He is asking them to pray for HIS flesh. Jesus was saying my spirit is willing to die for You and the whole world - to become the Perfect Lamb, but my flesh is so weak.
Jesus went back three times and each time praying and petitioning the Father for another way, but each time willingly submitting to whatever the Father wanted. Even though Jesus wanted a different way, He was willing to do it God's way.
After a third time of prayer and understanding that this was the way it had to be He came out and told His disciples "rest".
You see when there is nothing else we can do after a time of prayer what else can you do, but to rest in that decision. I don't mean to suggest Jesus went to the cross with a smile like a happy, obedient child like my daughter will sometimes get "Okay, mommy" she will say in her "happy voice", "I can do that mommy". No, I don't think it was like that.
As He approached the cross minute by minute, each step He made in that direction a little of Him died. Jesus knew the Scriptures and no doubt as He was praying that night His spirit in Him was being quickened and shown the words of the prophets and all that must take place. (v.54, 56).
Now all but Peter leaves Him and Peter travels at a distance trying to make himself obscure and Jesus, Yeshua, is put on trial and a false one at best. No doubt the witnesses against Him which Scripture tells us were "false witnesses" were somehow "paid off" to bring their testimonies. But Jesus held his peace.
And Peter denied Christ ...
A - Application for me today:
I do not mean to belittle what Christ went through and CERTAINLY nothing we are asked to give up can pale in comparison, but when Jesus asks us to give up something, perhaps a relationship, our home, our church, a position we have held, a sin such as overeating (gluttony) or some other addiction and asks us to start obeying Him perhaps by moving to a new location, another job or acting in ways that honor Him ... when He asks us something hard and we really have to submit our wills to His we might be a little solemn about it. I was convicted last week about some ways I wasn't honoring my husband, it hurt my heart that I was not honoring him, but as I began to submit my will to God's and to start being the help-meet I was created to be it wasn't easy - I wasn't all happy about it (not because I didn't want to honor my husband, but because it meant I had to put aside perhaps what I wanted to do and my own selfishness and pride ...) and whenever I was walking through that fire of purification, and it was a hot one, I had to bite my tongue a little and just do what I was being asked to do (by God) and with each action a little more of "me" (my will) was dying, but in return ... (ahhhh) in return I found myself rewarded! At every turn I was rewarded ... I came home a few days later to find the dishes done, the laundry a good bit under way, the puppy bathed and lunch being prepared ...
After all He has done for us and if you watched the video clips you might have a better understanding, at least visually, what He did for you ... how little we are asked to give in return ...
P - Prayer in response:
Thank you is not enough for what you endured for the sake of our salvation. How can I do anything, but give you all of me?
THE LOVE DARE CHALLENGE
Day 11: Love cherishes (to hold dear, to treasure, to treat with affection or tenderness, to care for, to protect).
Husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. —Ephesians 5:28
TODAY’S DARE
What need does your spouse have that you could meet today? Can you run an errand? Give a back rub or foot massage? Is there housework you could help with? Choose a gesture that says, “I cherish you” and do it with a smile.
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