Monday, March 30, 2015

Anointed for Glorification

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.  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.  But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”  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.  Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.  For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

“Now is my soul troubled.  And what shall I say?  ‘Father, save me from this hour’?  But for this purpose I have come to this hour.  Father, glorify your name.”  Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”  The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered.  Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”  Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine.  Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.  And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”  (John 12:1-8, 27-32)

When God created day and night, He created time.  But it was not long until the fall into sin.  The days of the darkness of man’s sin were long.  The days had to be fulfilled.  Time marched on until finally Jesus’ hour had come.  His hour was the time of His glorification.  It was a shameful death for a glorious King.  By this death, your shameful sins are covered.  Jesus is lifted up on the cross, and now draws you to Himself by His grace.  Now and for eternity, you are His.

O Lord, in your hour, you were glorified in death.  Help me to trust in your death for me as my salvation.  Amen.

Around the Word Devotions, Mar 30, 2015

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