Holy Week: Wednesday

Jesus’ popularity had reached an apex with His entry into Jerusalem (John 12:19), and the Jewish religious leaders ramped up their efforts to rid themselves of Him. Understandably, Jewish leaders were angered at Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God and feared they would lose power and authority if Jesus were to “come to power”. Yet Jesus was very popular with many people and his miracles were hard to explain away. They needed to find and arrest him, but how? The question was answered when Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples, approached them with an offer to hand over Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Between public miracles, blatant attacks on the religious establishment, and claiming to be the Son of God, they had now compiled what they believed was sufficient reason to take action. On Wednesday, plans were set in motion to capture Jesus and kill him.

It’s important to keep in mind when reading this historical account that God is IN the plan. That’s a hard truth to accept, and yet if it weren’t true, we wouldn’t know that Jesus willingly gave His life for us, thinking instead that His life was taken from Him. And that would’ve changed everything! Would He have truly been the Son of God if mere mortals could’ve taken His life against His and God’s will?

God’s plan is always good for us even when it looks and feels like the worst thing that can happen, so we follow Him in obedience and trust Him.

But let’s not focus on the villains; let’s revisit Monday for a most beautiful encounter with Jesus. After overturning the tables in the temple, Jesus was physically and spiritually exhausted, so he and his disciples traveled to a friend’s house in Bethany. This story is found in Luke 7:37-50.

She clutched the treasure to her breast as she made her way to the house.  She saw contempt in the faces of the people as she passed by.  When she arrived, she immediately went to Jesus and fell to her knees, her tears falling on his feet, so she washed them with her tears and dried them with her hair.  Then she broke the precious alabaster jar and poured the expensive perfume on Jesus as a sacrifice to him of all that she had. 

The others in the room complained to Jesus that she was a sinner and condemned her for wasting the treasure rather than selling it to use the money for ministry.  But Jesus chastised them!  He said that she had done a beautiful thing; she sacrificed her treasure to honor Him.  Jesus said further that whenever the gospel was shared, what she had done would also be shared!

What those religious people did not understand is that this woman was the only person in the room who was authentically worshiping Jesus by sacrificing all that she had to serve Him and bask in His presence.

When this woman arrived at the house, she came as a broken sinner, but after an encounter with Jesus, she left forgiven, changed, honored, and filled with peace.

Jesus saw the purity of her heart.  He saw her love and devotion.  He saw that her true motive was to worship and honor Him, and that knowing Him was worth more to her than her most valuable treasure, and because of this, Jesus honored her above all the religious people in the room.

When we come to Jesus with a pure heart, bringing everything that we are and have, laying it at His feet to worship Him, we will be transformed.

He will heal us, bless us, teach us, comfort us and fill us with peace.

Jesus sees the beauty deep within us, our sacrifices and devoted service.

He sees our heart when others misunderstand us, ridicule us, label us, and judge us.

He sees us when we’ve been made to feel like we are less than others.

He sees our tears and broken hearts and reminds us that we are His treasures.

Psalm 56:8  “You keep track of all my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have written them in your book.”

He sees YOU in this crowded world.  He sees YOU in your hard times, your heartbroken times, or whatever mess you may find yourself in right now.  He sees your confusion, and the thoughts and feelings you are experiencing.

He’s calling you to come have an encounter with Him so that your life can be transformed.

No condemnation. 

Just love. 

And the power to change.

He sees you as someone who has a purpose and a future.  He sees you as uniquely gifted and capable.  He sees you as a wonder-woman who can impact your family, community, and the world in a positive and powerful way.

Jeremiah 29:11  “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

He’s calling you to have an encounter with him so He can celebrate with you!

Everything that happened during Holy Week …

Everything that took Jesus to the Cross …

Everything that culminated in bringing about Resurrection Sunday …

was for YOU.

Psalm 18:19 (ESV) “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.”

Come and worship at His feet.