Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Monday October 19, 2009 and we are completing our studies in the book of Mark, please read chapters 14-16 in your Bible or Click Here to read them. http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-october-19

Today's Message: Eyes Opened
In the world's estimation, when someone gives his time, talent, or tithes for Christ and His Church, it is sheer waste, but once our eyes have been opened to the worthiness of our Lord, nothing is too good for Him.

The world tends to base everything on material value, the more a person has of the finer things, the more he/she is respected and adored. Those who follow Christ, on the other hand, seek the things that please God, knowing that the finer things in life will come when we meet Jesus. Now, just because we follow Christ that does not mean we can not enjoy the finer things, it means that Christ comes before them and anything we get is the result of our faithfulness in serving God. No matter how much we talk about giving up worldly things for Christ the world will never get it. Simon, a leper who had been healed by Jesus, lived in Bethany, a small town less than two miles south of Jerusalem on the slope of the Mount of Olives. Just a few days before Jesus was crucified, Simon invited Him and the apostles to his home for dinner. “After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people. And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.” - Mark 14:1-3. Here are these men, whom are supposed to be men of God and instead of preparing for the Passover they are plotting a way to deceive Jesus and kill Him. Of course they have to be very sly about it because they knew that if anyone were to find out about it then it would cause an uproar. As Simon was entertaining Jesus and His disciples, a woman takes a very expensive ointment or perfume and pours it on Jesus head. The value of this ointment was worth about what a working man would make for a years salary.

You can probably imagine the look on the disciples face when this expensive ointment was just poured on Jesus' head, Judas was not the only one that would grumble over this act, the other disciples did as well. “And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.” - Mark 14:4-11. There was an immediate reaction from the apostles criticizing her conduct. Judas was first to criticize her, as treasurer, he did not get the reason why the woman just wasted this ointment on Jesus. Since Judas had never recognized Jesus as Lord of his life he had no idea what a valuable gift this woman gave Him. There were very few real kind things that were done towards Christ before His crucifixion. Though many followed Jesus, most of them were out to get something from Him. As far as the so-called religious community and their leaders, they all continually were plotting to kill Jesus and take His life. Since Jesus will become the Passover Lamb very soon, this would be Jesus only anointing before His crucifixion. It was probably the lost opportunity to sell the ointment and pocket the money, coupled with the strong rebuke from Jesus and great honor bestowed upon the woman that angered Judas to the point of him betraying Jesus.

Our generation is no different than in the time of Jesus. Human nature remains the same. Every person must make the personal choice whether to accept or to reject Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives. Mary set an example of self-denial that is much needed in a world today. We should all join in with the Apostle Paul, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” - Philippians 2:1-5

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night
God Bless You,
Christina

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