John the apostle wrote how, “Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. Then said one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein”, and in chapter twelve and verse seven of his book John shared how Jesus said, “let her alone: against the day of my burying has she kept this” where we read:
Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
The verse reads, “Then said Jesus, Let her alone:” John began with the words, “then said Jesus” which means “at that time uttered, declared and proclaimed the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation”, “let her alone” or “allow Mary to be”. John shared how Jesus told “Judas” to leave “Mary” alone for the following reason.
The verse goes on to say, “against the day of my burying has she kept this.” John continued with the words, “against the day” which means “toward and unto the time period” “of my burying” or “pertaining to my, Jesus', preparation of the body for interment or burying” “has she kept this” which means “has Mary attended to carefully and taken care of the preparation for Jesus' burial”. John shared how Jesus told “Judas” the reason “Mary” anointed His feet was to “prepare” His body to be interred.
When we think through upon John's words in this verse, we learn how “Mary's” worship of Jesus became the preparation of His body for burial. Though Judas questioned the “waste” of this “ointment”, Jesus knew it was not an unwise expenditure. Jesus was on His way to the cross to die for the sins of all mankind, and when a person submits their life to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He forgives their sins and grants them everlasting life and fellowship with God. Those who examine these things will discover how every aspect of Jesus' life on earth was for the “salvation” of mankind, and surrender to Him is the best choice a person will every make.
Next time John shares how Jesus says, “the poor always you have with you, but me you have not always”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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