The Friday Before Good Friday

Scripture: "Mary brought in a pint of very expensive perfume made from pure nard. She poured the perfume on Jesus' feet, and then she wiped his feet with her hair. And the sweet smell from the perfume filled the whole house." – John 12:3 (NIV)

Today's chapter is entitled, "Risky Love." Max is telling the story of Jesus, Mary, Lazarus and others having dinner at Simon's home. Simon is one of the many lepers Jesus healed and wanted to host his Savior in comfort and the company of good friends. He explains, "Simon didn't forget what Jesus had done. He couldn't forget. Where there had been a nub, there was now a finger for his daughter to hold. Where there had been ulcerous sores, there was now skin for his wife to touch. And where there had been lonely hours spent in quarantine, there were now happy hours such as this..." This is such a huge point for those of us who have been Christians for a long time, and who spend most of our waking hours providing the opportunity for others to hear the Gospel and meet Jesus. We forget what we've been rescued from. We talk and preach about hell, but it becomes a distant reality of existence to us because we take for granted that our future is sealed in heaven. We forget that even beyond the depths of Hades, that Jesus wants to save the woman down the street from her own personal hell of the physical and emotional abuse she lives in with her controlling husband. We forget that He wants to save the child next door from the hell of evil incest that rages in a father's mind. He also wants to save that neighbor you know who has secretly lost his job and can't bear to tell his wife and family from the hell of his shame. What have you been saved from? Do you remember what it was like before you were His and He blessed and transformed your life so radically? Can you even, for a moment, imagine what eternity would be like, separated from God? The hug of a loved one; a cup of cold water on a hot, thirsty day; the kind, listening ear of your best friend or soul mate; the smell and feel of your child's skin and the sound of their laugh; these are all the presence of God in your life. Without Him, all of that is gone. Forever. Take time to thank Him for what he did for you. And be motivated to bring others to Jesus. Be upset that the enemy could potentially deceive unsaved ones...ones you love who don't know Jesus...and separate them from Him and any comfort...forever.

This leads me to my next point. Max eloquently writes about Mary's pouring of the perfume on Jesus, "It wasn't a logical thing to do, but since when has love been led by logic? Logic hadn't healed Simon. Common sense hadn't wept at Lazarus's tomb. Practicality didn't feed the crowds or love the children. Love did. Extravagant, risky, chance-taking love." Even Jesus' disciples chastised her for her risky move. They looked at it as a waste but Jesus was quick to defend her, "Why are you troubling this woman? She did an excellent thing for me." Max goes on to say, "Jesus' message is just as powerful today as it was then. Don't miss it: There is a time for risky love. There is a time for extravagant gestures. There is a time to pour out your affections on the one you love. And when the time comes – seize it, don't miss it." We all have ways of putting off things that seem extravagant or "over-the-top," because we look at being practical as the best way to live. We're all reigning in finances because of the recession and potential job loss; we have to save money here & there because the kids need this & that; we put off date night because we want to save money and energy for whatever family demands will (or have) come. All of these excuses are real and alive in today's family life...and potentially stealing our joy in our relationships with God and others. I know I am guilty of allowing that. But we serve an extravagant God. He IS the God of the impossible, and His resources are limitless. I'm not saying go out and spend money you don't have and expect God to pick up the tab, but I am challenging the area of your time and energy. In life, we work with the resources we have and those resources come down to time, energy and money. Trust God with ALL of those resources, and you will be AMAZED at the time and energy you have when you don't think you have it (and that applies to money too)! Max goes on to say, "The price of practicality is sometimes higher than the price of extravagance." Meaning, sometimes we keep calling on practicality to make our decisions and then the opportunities never come again. He also says, "The seized opportunity renders joy. The neglected brings regret." Are you feeling the same sense of urgency to love and forgive and reach out like I am? Even to the ones who aren't easy to love?

That said, I'm going to write a letter of apology today that's been on my mind for a LONG time. I'm embarrassed to admit it still needs to be done. Is there any spring cleaning that needs to be done in your heart before you come to the altar of God for Good Friday, Easter, whatever? Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:23&24, "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." It seems fitting that I would take care of this before preparing a church service to give to God as a gift when I still have this "hell" in my heart. Scary, isn't it? To think those little, undone things in our walks as Christians really are a little piece of hell. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be walking around with that kind of baggage on a regular basis and I certainly don't want to get caught with it when the Lord returns!

Take time to revere the One we're celebrating this season, and ask Him to put on your heart the areas He'd like you to trust Him with. He died for you, and it was an agonizing, grueling, torturous death. It wasn't just a story; don't reduce it to some fancy piece of artwork that tells of a part of irrelevant history that doesn't apply to us anymore. Because you see, He rose and conquered the grave and HE LIVES!! Let's live with Him and LIKE HIM...really! Good Friday and Easter are coming...are you ready?