Today marks our fourth day of Holy Week remembrances as the plot thickens on how to go about capturing and killing. We also recognize on this day that Jesus was Anointed at Bethany.
Matthew 26:1-5 (NIV)
When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
Matthew 26:6-13 (NIV)
While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
PRAYER
Most gracious Heavenly Father, we are once again profoundly grateful for your willingness to pursue the cross. Thank you for the many examples you have left us with, so that we might gain a clear understanding of your life for our growth and greater understanding of you and our purpose in you.
Thank you for showing us the discipline in perseverance and humility, and give us strength and wisdom to take up or cross daily and follow you in all life’s circumstances. And this we humbly ask in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.