Experiencing Jesus Together Through LentSample

Day 38:

Scripture:
“Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.” John 12:3 NLT

A Call To: Prepare
Mary knew how to receive from Jesus. She understood the value of sitting at His feet. I often think to myself, would I have been like Martha or Mary? Have I been caught up in performance and striving and missed out on the opportunity to be present with Jesus? Or would I chose to sit at his feet and not miss a word he would share?

How often do we miss what Jesus is saying to us because we are too busy doing life? We have our list of things to do and run from one thing to the next. How would our relationship with Jesus change if we invited him into our day-to-day activities and took time to sit and be still before him?

Mary didn’t realize that what she did was a prophetic act of preparation of what was about to happen to Jesus--he would die and rise again. In verse 7 Jesus tells Judas that she is doing this in preparation for His burial.

Mary shows humility in anointing Jesus’ feet and drying them with her hair. Culturally women rarely ever let down their hair in public. She shows extravagance towards Jesus using the expensive perfume to anoint his feet. It’s said to be worth a year’s salary of a working man.

Reflection:
Have you learned how to sit at the feet of Jesus and receive from him? If the answer is no, ask God to show you what is preventing you from receiving.

Praise + Prayer:
Father God,
Help me to discern when I need to serve, like Martha, and when I need to sit at Your feet and receive, like Mary. I lay down my agenda for my life, the mundane tasks and submit those to You. Show me what You want to accomplish each day. Help me to remember to be still and to receive from You. You are worthy of it all. I don’t want to miss a word that You are speaking to me. Open up my ears to hear You, my eyes to see You and my heart to receive You. In Jesus' name, amen.