Who is Jesus? Chapter 44 - A Woman Anoints Jesus for his burial.

 

Who is Jesus? Chapter 44 - A Woman Anoints Jesus for his burial.

Jesus knew his time was drawing near to his death, and He was attempting to prepare His followers about his sacrifice soon to happen.  He was also teaching about His second coming and about the signs to be revealed in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth. This would include distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the evil times.  People will faint with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.   Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

So also, when you see these things happening, understand that the kingdom of God is near.

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

This is so important for us to consider today, because Jesus said, to watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day will come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay alert at all times, being sober and praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of God in that hour.

So it was that every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Again, early in the morning all the people would come to him in the temple to hear him. Now it was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and Jesus was invited to a dinner in Bethany at the house of Simon who had a serious skin disease.

As Jesus was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of pure and expensive fragrant oil of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the oil on His head.

But some of the disciples were expressing indignation and arguing with one another: “Why has this fragrant oil been wasted? For this oil might have been sold for more than a day's wages and given to the poor.” And they began to scold the woman.

Then Jesus said; “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for Me. You always have the poor with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; and has anointed my body in advance for my burial. I assure you: Wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

She no doubt poured out this oil because she loved Jesus so much; having been forgiven from the sins of her terrible past. Although she was doing this as an act of love and worship, she did not understand that she was actually anointing the body of Jesus for burial, but Jesus explained to those who were watching - - that was exactly what she was doing.

When we worship Jesus with our prayers, and songs of praise, we are also anointing Jesus with the oil of gladness, and He returns to us joy inside our spirit. There are times the very presence of Jesus will become as a sweet-smelling fragrance to us as we sing sweet praises to him. And we can know that He is pleased as we give him our praise and our worship.

It is good to set aside some of your early morning personal time to read your Bible and to worship Jesus. You will realize that your day will go better when you do this. Decide today to meet with Jesus in a quiet place to begin your day with at least a chapter from God's Word, and a song of praise to Him.