February 26 – Picking the Important Things

“And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. … She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial.”   Mark 14:5b-6, 8 (ESV)

Context is important. Jesus is near the end of his ministry on earth. He knows the ultimate purpose of His coming to earth is to be a sacrifice for all people. He will be betrayed by his own, turned over to be executed by Roman crucifixion. He visits friends in Bethany. Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus. Martha is being the perfect host. Mary is overcome with sadness and by her love for Jesus. Perhaps she understands better than others what Jesus is facing. Mary takes very expensive perfumed ointment and anoints Jesus by pouring it on His head. Some, led by Judas were indignant, put-out by Mary’s action. They thought it was wasteful of Mary to do this. “They scolded her.”  But Jesus, knowing why she was doing this defended her actions. He saw it as an expression of love and devotion to Him in light of His approaching death as well as a messianic acclamation. Showing comfort or aid to some out of love for our Lord Jesus brings Him honor and glory. We can trust that God knows our motivations⸺selfish and unselfish⸺He is pleased with our loving sacrifices when they are for His name’s sake. 

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November 13 – Spirit of Truth

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17 (NIV) 

We look again at what Jesus said to his disciples in the hours just before his arrest, trial and crucifixion. We find a wonderful promise which given to the 12 disciples has also been given to us. All who believe and have accepted Jesus Christ's offer of forgiveness and eternal life have received the Holy Spirit who will be with us forever. We are aware of His presence because He lives in us and is with us. Those who do not believe are unable to have this blessing until they do choose to believe. Let us be sure to have open ears and receptive hearts to hear what the Holy Spirit says to us, He is the Spirit of Truth and he acts on our behalf even praying to the Father for our needs.

March 25 - Good Friday

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”  Matthew 27:50-51 (NIV)

The death of Jesus on the cross was a part of God’s great plan for you and me. As we read the record of the crucifixion we find that one of the events that occurred gave a sign of what his death has done for us. We read in John’s record that the last words of Jesus were “It is finished.”  Then he died and at that very moment the curtain in the temple in Jerusalem was torn from top to bottom. Do you remember what that curtain was for? It was to show that people did not have access into God’s presence. His death opened the way for us to come to God. Let’s take advantage of this.

March 24

“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34 (NIV)

Jesus spoke several times during his crucifixion – very meaningful words such as those in this verse. He spoke while they were actually crucifying Him – a time of awful physical suffering. He was praying for those who had driven the nails into his hands and feet but also for those who had delivered Him up to be crucified. Just think that at a time like that He could pray that they be forgiven. What a vision this gives us of His forgiving attitude toward all of us. We realize that our sins nailed Him to the cross. Jesus prays for us as we put our trust in Him

March 23

“Jesus commanded Peter, ‘Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?’”  John 18:11 (NIV)

During the final hours before Jesus died He made many important statements. Here He is speaking to Peter when He was being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus had just prayed to His Father asking that, if possible, He might not have to drink the cup. But He had also said, “Not what I will but what You will.” So when Peter tried to defend His Lord by fighting for Him, Jesus would have none of it.  He said, “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” I’m so glad Jesus obeyed the Father. There was no other way for us to escape eternal punishment for our sins.

March 22

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:32 (NIV)

The reason for the death of Jesus on the cross is expressed in more than one way in the Bible. We know that Jesus was talking about the kind of death He was going to die. So why was Jesus to die on the cross? In order to draw people to Himself. We are all slaves to sin. Satan was drawing us away from God. Jesus came to free us from this slavery. As we accept His death for us we are set free. We can then experience being drawn toward God. Hasn’t Jesus drawn you to Himself? Aren’t you one of His today? Don’t you feel Him drawing you to Himself as you think of all He has done for you?

March 21

“Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”  John 12:23-24 (NIV)

There were many things that happened during the last days that Jesus lived just before His crucifixion that are recorded for us. We read of some Greeks coming asking to see Jesus. The verse for today was His reply. He was not interested in being a public hero. He had a burden on His heart for you and me. He knew that by dying for us He could bring us into the family of God. He was more interested in that than in being a public figure. By dying Jesus produced great results.  Let’s thank Him for being faithful.

March 17

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NIV)

We know that God loves us. In these pre-Easter days we have vivid reminder of that love. We will be reminded of Christ’s death on the cross. We see pictures of the crucifixion, and we will be singing songs about the cross. How should all this affect us? Our verse today suggests to us that when we think of Jesus dying on the cross, suffering as He did, we should think of it as a demonstration of God’s great love for us. When we visualize the sufferings He endured, let’s think of how great God’s love is. Then worship Him and thank Him.