Monday, September 19, 2011

Every bottle of perfume always ends up on the floor

I am revisiting the Mary and Martha situation. John 12:1-3:
     Six days before Pesach, Yeshua came to Beit-Anyah, where El`azar lived, the man Yeshua had raised from the dead; 2 so they gave a dinner there in his honor. Marta served the meal, and El`azar was among those at the table with him. 3 Miryam took a whole pint of pure oil of spikenard, which is very expensive, poured it on Yeshua's feet and wiped his feet with her hair, so that the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  

Martha (aka Marta) makes a meal to honor Jesus. Yes! And then Mary (aka Miryam) takes out the perfume and anoints Jesus' feet. What is remarkable to me is the combination of service and worship, and yet "the house was filled with the fragrance of perfume". I would assume the food Martha prepared wasn't just coldcuts and crackers; she probably spent all day baking and roasting and cooking. The house would be filled with the aroma of the wonderful meal. When Mary poured out the oil it would have overwhelmed the delicious smells of the meal.

Jesus did not despise the meal, and he did not praise the sacrifice over it, but the text speaks for itself: the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the fragrance anointing would follow us around, long after the food was eaten? That the worship offered through service would linger like oil, staying on our fingertips for days, blessing anyone we came into contact with?

I am thankful our L-rd values service and worship. He wants both and created all of us so differently so we can compensate for each other and learn from one another. So I'll continue in this service/worship wrestle until He returns.

One person who has encouraged my spirit in the last year is John Mark McMillan. Cassidy knows the chorus of this song, and it's become a bit of an anthem in our family. He has the perfect balance of lyrical and musical ability, so rare and so powerful. Blessings!

2 comments:

  1. Whew! I felt His Spirit very strong as I read this. Makes my heart cry out "Yes, L-rd!! Yes!!" Oh to smell Him...to know He's so close. Come, L-rd!

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  2. Wow that's really good Leah. Really timely in my life right now. Thank you. And thank you for being who you are...you in your walk bless and challenge me. And thanks for reminding me that John Mark is very talented and I need more of him in my life. Wow...good stuff. I love you.

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