Mary's gift

Matthew 26:6-13

Jesus was at Bethany 

In Simon the leper's home.  

A woman came to Him him and taking an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil she poured it on his head.  

Response of the disciples: why the waste?  Could have it been sold and the proceeds used on the poor?   

Jesus response: don't trouble the woman.  You will always have the poor but you won't always have me.  

Purpose behind what she did:  preparation for His burial.  

Her legacy will be passed on where ever the gospel is preached in the whole world.  

Details from John 12 to add more information to the story.  

The woman was Mary sister of Martha and Lazarus

The value of her oil was three hundred denarii, about one years wages.  

Judas was listed as the disciple bringing up the concern behind her money spent on it.  And it also mentions Judas being a thief and taking from the money put into the money box.  

Application.  

I am once again brought back to the attention on Mary.  That was what I was told this year to be for me, a year to be a Mary not a Martha.  To sit more at His feet.  Honestly with four children it's hard to figure out time to be a Mary.  Or to be just be a Mary naturally.  

Not an easy act for a busy mom to follow.

In this story we see another aspect of Mary to copy into our lives.

Mary did not think of how much this gift was worth.  She thought of how much value to receiver was, and so it was her way of doing something special and letting that person know that they are cared for and loved.

 She was close enough to Jesus to have heard His words and know that His time was coming to be taken away.  So she did something to help prepare Him in that.  It was a selfless gift.  

I think for myself, I want to remember once more the value of being a Mary.  True, there is always poor, and I can think of a 100 ways to spend my time being a doer.  And yes it is important work to be done.  But to take time to be at His feet is what He has asked me to do.  To show Him my devotion, my love, to give Him my very best, not concerned of the cost but of the importance and value of the One I am bringing my gift to.  That is what He is calling me to do.  

Jesus is not to be tricked. He knew what He was born for.

Matthew 26:1-5

Jesus is telling His disciples what is to come:  He is preparing them.  With details.

After two days is the Passover.  

Then the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.

Chief priests and scribes and elders of the people are conspiring together: 

Where? At the palace of the high priest Caiaphas 

What where they plotting?  To Take Jesus away by trickery and kill Him.  

When?  Not during the feast so they wouldn't cause an uproar among the people.  

As the story progresses, it's interesting the two stories on opposite ends of the same up coming event.  

And how those plotting to kill Jesus didn't know the details and plans yet.  But they were going to do it with trickery.  

Was Jesus tricked?  Nope He already knew what was coming.  He knew He was about to be taken, knew it would be during Passover, and He even tells His closest friends that.  

What's also interesting was how much Jesus was preparing His disciples for this, and how when it comes time they all take off.  Like they really weren't listening to what He was trying to tell them.  But He knew what was coming.

He could not be tricked by all the plotting in the world.  This is what He was born to do.  

Two thoughts for application: 

1. We need to listen to Jesus more.  Spend time with Him and really listen to the Holy Spirit speaking into our lives truth of what is to come.  Matching it up with Scripture.  Listening

2. What am I born to do?  What are the plans He has for me.  What is the work in that identity?  Stand strong in it.  Be confident in Christ in being that person.   Even if it means dying to the person you have been.  Think about that.  Pray about it.  Seek Him in it.  

   

Care for those that have need...

Matthew 25:31-46

What we are suppose to be doing now:

Feed those that are hungry 

Give water to those who are thirsty

Take in the stranger 

Clothe the naked

Visit the sick 

Visit those in prison

When we do these things for the least, we are doing it to Him.  

When Jesus comes in all His glory:  

He will have all His holy angels with Him.  He will sit on the throne of His glory.  All nations will be gathered together.  He will separate the sheep from the goats.  

Sheep will go on the right hand.  The King will say to those on His right hand:

"come inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world."

These are the ones who did what He asked them to do.  They will go into eternal life.

The goats He will separate on the left.  And He will say to them: "depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."  They did not do what He asked them to do for others.  They will go into everlasting punishment.  

Lord please help me see who You put in front of me to show Your love to.  I ache and long to do these things, not sure how to fit it all in with children.  Please show me, and help me be an example of loving others in this way to them.  

  

Be faithful in the little things...

Matthew 25:14-30

Kingdom of heaven is like...

A man traveling to a far country calls his own servants and gives goods to them according to their abilities:

One man five talents - he trades with them and makes five more - The Lord called Him a good and faithful servant, he was faithful with little he will be made ruler over much: enter into the joy of your lord

One man two talents - he gained two more - The Lord called him a good and faithful servant, he was faithful with a little he would be ruler over much: enter into the joy of your lord.

One man - one talent - he dug a hole and hid it in the ground - was afraid - thought of his master as a hard man - hid it.  The master called him a wicked lazy slave - talent was taken from him and given to the one who had ten talents.  Cast out into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.  

Everyone who has more will be given them.  And they will have abundance. 

The one who does not have even what they have will be taken away.  

Application:  be faithful with what God gives you - the small things  are just as important as the big things.  Our goal is to hear Him say "well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master!"  

That means do well with my moments as I feed my children and take them to school... Make the most of my time at the dentist, when I make food this afternoon do it with joy.  When I'm tired and having a hard time staying strong at putting my children to bed at night remember I get to, not I have to.  Be faithful in the little things... 

Changes in my quiet times...

I have tried to faithfully do this every day and loved it.  Right now I am going to be starting a mom's bible study for the school year that comes with homework.  So I am going to be taking a break from this - I plan on doing it when I don't have homework from bible study.  :). 

Parable of 10 virgins and the wedding feast

Matthew 25:1-13

Parable:

Kingdom of heaven is like the ten virgins who took their lamps and went our to meet the bridegroom 

Foolish ones did not bring extra oil

Wise ones took extra oil in their vessels

They all slept while they waited 

At midnight they heard a cry: "the bridegroom is coming!  Go out to meet Him!"  

The foolish virgins did not have enough oil.  They asked for some of the wise virgins oil.  

The wise virgins would not share because they did not have enough for both of them.  

So the foolish ones went to buy more oil, and while they were gone the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding and the door was shut.  

They came to Him crying and He told them He did not know them.  

Watch because you do not know the day or the hour He is coming.  

Jesus is telling His disciples these things.  Men who are learning from and following Him. 

We don't know the details -  all this is a part of trusting our lives to Him.

Our job is to be ready.  Oil represents the Holy Spirit in the bible.  That is Who Jesus sends to His followers to be with us when He goes back up to heaven.  The Holy Spirit is Jesus gift to us.  

We don't want to be in the middle of doing out own things and not being ready when He returns.  Following Jesus is a life long walk.  Faithfulness and being prepared are key to living life with Him.  

Faithful and wise vs the evil servant... Side by side comparison

Matthew 24:45-51

Faithful and wise servant: rules over his household and gives them food in due season.  

Evil servant:  beats his fellow servants eats and drinks with drunkards.

Faithful wise servant:  master will find him doing what he is suppose to be doing.

Evil servant: thinks his master is delaying his return and acts in a way that does what he wants...

The Master: will be coming on an unexpected day.  At an hour the servants are not aware of.  

The evil servant:  will be cut in two and appointed his portion with the hypocrites.  

Outcome: 

Good servant - will be made ruler over all his goods

Evil servant will be in a place with weeping and gnashing of teeth

How we spend our time is important to God.  Are we being good stewards of what He has given us, or are we frittering it away unfruitfully.  May I be faithful to pour into the work that You have given me well for Your glory:

Nick, Josiah, Ava, Mallory, Lena 

My neighborhood my writing 

May I shine Your love for them and may my words match up to my actions in how I treat and care for all of it.