CHOOSE: ALL IN OR USER
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
Matthew 26:6-16 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is Wednesday of Holy Week. Jesus is staying outside of Jerusalem in the house of a man He had cleansed from leprosy. Lazarus, the man he raised from the dead, is also there with his sisters. (We know this from the other gospel accounts of the story) On this Wednesday we will see the contrast between true followers of Jesus and false followers. One person is “all in”—willing to give the best they have to worship Jesus. The other person is using Jesus for personal profit. Mary, the sister of Lazarus, chooses to come and worship Jesus with an expensive bottle of perfume. She pours the entire bottle on Jesus’ head and feet. She wipes His feet with her hair. Jesus tells us Mary’s act was in preparation for His burial. There are three times this Mary shows up in scripture. In Luke 10 Mary is at the feet of Jesus listening to Him teach—she is blessed by His words. In John 11 we find Mary at Jesus’ feet again, this time as she unloads her burdens at the death of her brother. And in today’s passage from Matthew 26 we find Mary at Jesus’ feet giving her best perfume to prepare Him for burial. The contrast with Mary is Judas. He gets upset that Mary would “waste” a bottle of perfume worth a year’s wages. He argues the perfume could have been sold and the money used to help the poor. But we learn in John 12:6 Judas didn’t say this because he was interested in the poor. Judas was the treasurer and kept the money for the disciples. After Jesus’ death and resurrection John would realize Judas had been taking money out of the treasury for personal profit. He wanted the money to put in the treasury so he could benefit. What kind of a follower are you? (All in or user)
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit help me to be willing to be a worshipper who gives my best to Jesus. Help me to never look at Jesus as a means for personal gain.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
I’m all in with Jesus for.everrrrrrr. No one greater . sometimes I think deeply why he loved us so much that he went through what he through. It’s mind boggling, actually .
I want ot serve Jesus out of total commitment to His cause. I want to be ”all in” for the kingdom of God. I never want to have the attitude of “what do I get out of it.”
Guard my heart and instill wisdom in me to always do what is noble, trustworthy, and admirable to You!