Holy Week-Tuesday

Alot happens on Tuesday of Holy Week. Our scriptures for today are Matthew 21:12-13, 23-27; Matthew 21-Matthew 23:39; Matthew 26: 6-13; Mark 11:27-33; Mark 12:1-44; Mark 14: 3-9; Luke 20:1-8; Luke 20: 9-21:4 and John 12:2-11. I will not be taking all of these and going verse by verse, but I am going to some of them.

Ask God as you read today to open your heart to His Word, and bring wisdom and new revelation. He is so good! I know life gets hard, circumstances can overwhelm us. But I have to tell you, I love Him more today than yesterday. He saved my life. I pray you fall in love with Jesus and the scriptures.

And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

The chief priests and the elders are furious at Jesus and demand to know what authority has been given to Him. This is actually a trap. But Jesus recognizes the trap and refuses to answer them directly. So, He basically starts playing their game. He proceeds to teach but in parables.

We are going to skip over to John 12:1-11

 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” The Plot to Kill Lazarus 9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

Interesting fact: All four of the gospels give the above account of the woman anointing Jesus. The one from Luke 7:36-50 was probably a different person.

The oil Mary used was expensive, which showed her devotion to Christ. The fact she poured the oil on His feet represents her humility before the Lord. Tending to the feet in Biblical times was considered servant's work.

"Mary’s anointing of Jesus’ feet with costly perfume serves as a counterpoint to Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet: Jesus does not require the cleansing that the disciples need (13:10–11), but he is worthy of this lavish expenditure and act of humble devotion." Later on this week, we will see the act of Jesus washing their feet.

Mary's costly devotion to Jesus prepares Him for His burial. doesn't that give you chills?!? Anointing Him with her perfume, wiping His feet dry with her hair...preparing Him from what would come at the end of the week.

Do you think she knew? Verse 7 indicates that she may have known...

Holy Week Tuesday was a busy day-the elders and priests basically questioning Jesus' authority. It's a thousand wonders God did not strike them with a lightening bolt. To teaching parable in the temples. To finally being able to lean back on His arm with His leg stretched out. They would eat in a lying manner. Eating a dinner prepared in His honor, only to have the humble Mary anoint Him. Do you notice a sweetness with Mary? She honors Him as He is still living and breathing.

For today, I want you to reflect on your personal devotion to Jesus. Would you take on the servant role and wash someone's feet? How is your obedience to Jesus? How are you honoring Him today?

Have a blessed day,

V

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 21:23–28.

Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 319–320.

Marianne Meye Thompson, John: A Commentary, First edition., The New Testament Library (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2015), 259.