CHRIST'S BURIAL
"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and THAT HE WAS BURIED, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" - 1 Cor 15:1-4

Devotion 10 of 14

THE ANOINTING
      A most remarkable incident occurred during the close of Christ's earthly ministry. Very much of the Lord's heart was  revealed in this incident. "Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it upon His head as He reclined at the table. But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, Why this waste? For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor. But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, 'Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. For the poor you have with you always; but you do not always have Me. For when she poured this
perfume upon My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. Truly I say to you,  wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done shall also be spoken of in memory of her'" (Matt 26:6-13), NASB).

      For some, this was an unthoughtful interruption of the meal. For others, it was a senseless display of waste and inconsideration. Even "the disciples" considered the act economically unsound. The "very costly perfume" could have been sold, if the woman did not want it. That would at least provide some relief for the poor. Jesus does not let the matter pass. He challenges their wayward thinking, and opens to them something their minds had never entertained.

      "Why do you bother the woman?" Thinking themselves to be helpful and observing, they had brought annoyance into this woman's life. She did not do something senseless, but did "a good deed to" Jesus!  These men would not always have Jesus with them, but they would have the poor to the end of the world. Then Jesus told them what had really happened; how it must have startled them! "For when she poured this perfume upon My body, she did it to prepare Me  for burial." I will not speculate on the depth of insight possessed by this woman. The point is how Jesus viewed her action. Doubtless, her heart entered into the matter. This event brought some consolation to Jesus! He had been prepared for His burial--and you do not "prepare" for matters of no consequence! 

  Jesus linked this event with the glorious Gospel. "Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done shall also be spoken of in memory of her." Wherever the Gospel has gone, the account of this woman has also gone! Her deed -- she anointed Jesus in preparation for His burial! Every follower of Jesus should take heart when hearing of our Lord's gracious response to this woman! Those who spend of themselves and their substance for Jesus may be derided by men, but they will not be rebuked by the Lord! And, if identification with Christ's burial brought a blessing, what shall be the lot of those who have identified with His death and resurrection as well!

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Your Son, give me grace to devote all that I have to Jesus, breaking the box my possessions are in, so to speak, so they may not be gathered for me again!

-- TOMORROW: CHRIST'S ACTIVITY WHILE HIS BODY REMAINED BURIED --