Investment | Calvary Apostolic Church | Easter Devotional | Day 2
John 12:1-10 KJV
[1] Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
[2] There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
[3] 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 odour of the ointment.
[4] Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
[5] Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
[6] 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.
[7] Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
[8] For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
[9] Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
[10] But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
In the days leading up to the crucifixion, many symbolic events happened. One unique event being the anointing of the feet of Jesus by Mary on the sixth day before the Passover.
It is important to note this was not the first time Mary had been at the feet of Jesus. In Luke 10:39-42, we see Mary choosing to sit at the feet of Jesus as opposed to being distracted with the duties life brings. This same Mary, scripture lets us know, was also the sister to Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. So because she knew and experienced the power of Jesus in her life, she honored him with the valuable ointment she possessed by anointing his feet.
Everyone around was impacted by the aroma of the ointment and act of worship. Judas scoffed and suggested a more practical use of the valuable substance, which was seemingly wasted. What Mary gave was of no little value. It wasn’t a small investment. It was comparable to a life savings. And, at a glance, we could even be guilty of agreeing with Judas and say “isn’t there a better use in life that would have more impact?” Jesus was very clear in his response, “let her alone.” He didn’t waiver and left no gray area to assume there was any truth in Judas’s comment. He recognized the prophetic implication of Mary’s statement and then made a pro founding statement. He said in verse eight, “For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.” Jesus wasn’t saying don’t give to the poor, He was saying don’t pick a temporary investment over an Eternal investment.
To Mary, Jesus was worth everything. No offering she could bring could match the value Jesus had in her life. Her experience with Jesus caused her to give her best to him. We often wrestle with Judas's voice in life, whether internal or external as we live according to the word of God and live our lives as a sacrifice to him. We often question, is it really the best use of my life to do so much? We need never to place more importance on physical and temporary investments and miss the eternal investment, which is our relationship with God. The story of Mary’s gift of worship forces us to ask ourselves, How much is Jesus worth to me? He gave his life for you, will you invest your life into him?
Prayer: God you have done so much in my life, help me to give myself to you. In everything I do God, let it be for your Glory and according to your will. Help me to not be distracted by material or temporary investments, which may seem as good on the surface, but would cause me to give less of my time, focus, and finances to you.
Children Jelly Bean Prayer Guide!
Attached below is a PDF for children’s Easter prayer guide you can download and use this week with your family!