Destined to Reign

1 Samuel 17:32-51

David Kills Goliath

This is a popular story of the shepherd boy David who slaughtered the giant Goliath.

The armies of Israel and the Philistines were encamped on opposite hills, separated only by the Valley of Elah. The Philistine champion, Goliath, was dressed in full armour and stood in the valley, for forty days challenging any Israelite to a duel. No one among Israel’s ranks dared to accept Goliath’s challenge.

There had been many previous encounters between these two armies. Since the Philistines mastered the technology of ironworks, they held the military advantage over Israel. Israel was on the verge of defeat!

The hearts of the Israelite sank at the sight of Goliath. Finally, the youthful David stepped forward and said to King Saul, “There is no need to be afraid of that Philistine because I will engage him in a duel.”

Saul proceeded to equip David with his own armour, a bronze helmet, and a coat of mail. David strapped his sword over his armour but he couldn’t move properly under the weight of everything he had put on. The armour of a king who was rejected by God was not fit for David!

So David picked up his shepherd staff and collected five smooth stones from the brook into his shepherd pouch. He approached the Philistine with a sling in his hand. This was an asymmetrical fight!

When Goliath looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, with a ruddy and unseasoned appearance. Goliath said to David, “Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks?” The Philistine cursed David by his gods and said, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field” (vv. 43-44).

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the battle is the LORD’s” (vv. 45-46).

When Goliath arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground (vv. 48-49).

There was no sword in the hand of David. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled (vv. 50-51).

What is the main point of this narrative?

We will interpret this story from its plot structure. Chapter 17 consists of two main trajectories that reach their climax when David beheaded Goliath.

First, Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth” (v. 33).

But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God” (vv. 34-36).

The narrator is highlighting that David was a good shepherd who did not hesitate to lay down his own life to strike down bears and lion in order to save his flock. Today he stepped forward, in full view of the Israelite assembly, to kill Goliath. David saved Israel from the paws of the enemy. The narrator’s goal is to declare that a king, the saviour of his people, has emerged! David was the great shepherd and the ruler of the nation. The people were his flock.

From that time onwards, the word spread, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” Earlier on, the prophet Samuel anointed David in secret, but now was the time for David to display his royal flair in public.

Secondly, David was clothed in his shepherd attire, held to his shepherd staff, and armed with smooth stones to fight Goliath. David was using the techniques he employed against wild animals to battle Goliath. Goliath’s own words highlight this point, “Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks?” (v. 43)

Here, the narrator is emphasising David’s extraordinary vision. People regarded Goliath as a fearsome warrior, but David saw him as a mere barking beast. Such extraordinary vision is the basis for David’s royal demeanour.

So here’s what this narrative is about – a chronicle of the emergence of God’s chosen king! The chosen king’s royal demeanour was based on his extraordinary vision. So what can we learn from this today?

Christians Are Royal Priests

Have you considered that we too are God’s chosen people, a royal priesthood, and co-rulers with Christ? Did you know that we are to enjoy an abundant and victorious life to testify God’s abundance?

1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.”

Perhaps we do not see how we fit into the image of a king. Perhaps we know of some non-believers who, like Goliath, seem to be more magnificent and successful. They are the ones who look more like kings. But from God’s perspective, which is the perspective of spiritual reality, we are God’s royal priests. We have a royal status. The problem is whether our lives today reflect our status as kings.

How does your life match up with your status as a king?

Let us be confident in our Christian confession. In every field, we should step forward and do our best to shine for the Lord and be His testimony. As kings, we should be neither servile nor overbearing. We should not be hesitant or feel unworthy. At the same time, we are not to be domineering or arrogant. We should not be calculative with God and with people.

Royal priests are God’s representatives on the earth who co-work with Him. We are stewards of God’s deputised authority. We have the responsibility to resist evil, carry out justice, do God’s will, build our communities with righteousness and love, and govern the earth. This was the original purpose when God created human beings in His image and placed them in the Garden of Eden. Human beings were made to represent God and carry His authority to govern the earth. But our ancestor, Adam, rebelled against God and did not fulfil his mission.

Today we who believe in Jesus are united with Christ. This is the recovery of our royal status and life. Let us all treasure this healthy and positive picture of a royal priest. Every day, by the power of the Spirit, let us live out this wonderful life and not cultivate the negative attitudes that are filled with complaints, low self-esteem, and self-destruction!

Royal Vision

If we are to have the “royal swag,” so to speak, then we ought to have a royal vision of seeing things. The royal perspective transcends that of the commoners. The difference is in values of life. The royal demeanour is founded upon extraordinary vision!

When a businessman, an artist, and an environmentalist look at the same tree, they all see different things because they have different perspectives. Let us now compare our perspective with the perspectives of the people of the world. Is there a difference?

In every stage of our lives, it is inevitable that we face various kinds of “Goliaths” clamouring around us. The devil attempts to frighten us with life’s difficulties. The devil also tempts us so that we may compromise on matters of sin. Perhaps we may even abandon the faith!

Today you need to confront the “Goliaths” in your life. God wants to give us a transcendent vision so that we may see through the problems that beset us. He wants to give us a transcendent vision so that we may see through the devil’s temptations and deceptions. God wants us to transcend these obstacles so that we may enter into the abundance of His good pleasure.

David’s slaughtering of Goliath to save Israel prefigures Jesus Christ who saved sinners by overcoming Satan and sin through His death on the cross. The salvation afforded to us by Jesus Christ enables each and every one of us who are in Christ to reign with Him. We are given this extraordinary vision to defeat the devil.

We must not give any ground to sin. We should not use the values of the world to weigh our decisions. In our daily life, we should evaluate every problem and base our decisions on the principles of the Bible. That is why we are called “a holy nation”, separated and different from the other people of the world.

When we adhere to God’s laws and cling to His power, all the “Goliaths” will become small. We can defeat them and knock them down! The Lord Jesus has overcome the evil one and we who rely on Jesus will likewise be victorious.

Do you have that “royal swag” about you? May you realise your status and have your perspective lifted up so that you may engage your daily life positively. We can depend on the authority and grace given by the Lord Jesus to knock down “Goliath” and live out the Davidic “royal swag.”

狂飙后的微声

列王纪上十九1-18

先知以利亚求死

以利亚先知的事奉生涯充满色彩和人性化，正反映我们服侍神所经历的起起落落。当时的背景是北国以色列的亚哈王朝。亚哈是不敬虔的君王。他娶了外邦女子耶洗别当王后。以色列王室积极鼓励国人敬拜偶像巴力，同时又迫害耶和华神的先知。耶和华神这时候呼召以利亚出来抵抗邪恶的王室，以及唤醒国人，认定耶和华神才是真神。

以利亚事奉的高峰就是在迦密山以寡敌众，与450巴力先知比拼，测试哪一方信奉的是真神（王上18章）。当时巴力的先知用尽一切办法，都无法令到祭物着火，接着以利亚祷告祈求耶和华神降下火来，火就降下来！结果，450巴力先知全被以利亚杀死，而三年的旱灾停止。这一切证明耶和华是神，而以利亚是神的仆人。

没有轰轰烈烈的事奉功效又如何？

以利亚乘胜回到城里时候，期望亚哈与耶洗别在他面前悔改认罪，接着耶和华信仰的复兴之火席卷全国。事与愿违，邪恶的亚哈和耶洗别没有因为这件事而悔改，礼待先知。耶洗别反而发出命令，明天就要杀死以利亚（2节）。

以利亚获悉噩耗之后，竟然害怕起来，起来逃命。更荒谬的是，他跑到迦南地最南部的别是巴。这里离开北国以色列很远了，应该是安全的，但以利亚在旷野走了一天，然后坐在一颗罗腾树下求死，说：『耶和华啊，现在够了！求你取我的性命吧！因为我不比我的列祖好。』（4节）

为何以利亚这么快从高峰跌下来，甚至到了求死的地步？

以利亚听闻耶洗别发出格杀令，开始感到害怕，接着立刻逃生，这是出自人性的本能。他接着在罗腾树下求死，是因为对自己的事奉生涯感到绝望。他觉得自己不胜于亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各等祖先，没有成就有功效的事奉。他对自己失望，对顽梗的国人失望。

以利亚也对神失望。他很自义的认为，只有他一个人大发热心追随耶和华，没有向巴力屈膝变节（10节）。因此耶和华神应该赐予他更大的祝福与能力，去证明耶和华是真神，以利亚是神的伟大先知。为何耶和华神竟然容许耶洗别这样对待他呢？

以利亚说，『现在够了』，表示他对耶和华绝望，也对自己绝望。他不一定真的有必死的决心，但他决定放弃先知的职分，选择逃避。

以利亚的困境事奉也是我们的情况？当我们努力服侍神，期望神得着荣耀的同时，也盼望自己的事奉被人认同，被人肯定。我们深信是神拣选自己在这个岗位事奉他，但是多少时候，却又期望神按着我们的计划和期望来行事，好说明我就是他的仆人。

我们期望神可以显出他的大能，好叫我这个在他荫庇下的小人物也可以沾点光彩。但是，当我们发现原来神不一定会按着我们自己的心意行事的时候，我们便沮丧、迁怒于神；灰心，惧怕，失望等负面情绪，一拼涌上心头。

这时候我们对整个群体失望，因此离群独处，逃避事奉，情愿把自己孤立在旷野，或躲在洞穴内。我们觉得生命再没有意义，失去方向，甚至产生求死的念头。

耶和华神没有责备以利亚的软弱，而是差派天使来到拍醒他，给他水和饼，要他起来吃。神先处理他的肉体软弱！以利亚吃喝过后，又再躺下。天使第二次带来水和饼，再次吩咐他起来吃，『因为你要走的路很远』（7节）。

『要走的路很远』意思是，神提醒以利亚必须坚持下去，勇敢面对自己生命的软弱，仰赖从上而来的力量与恩典，走完全程！神要以利亚学习，从信仰生命的历程的角度来看自己，而不是把注意力集中在某次成或失败的经历上。我们若纠缠在自己某次成功或软弱失败的经历中，我们的生命就只会陷入死胡同内，在没有前景，也没有将来。

今天你是否觉得事奉没果效，不符合自己的期望；会众不听话，软弱？觉得自己孤军作战，神的教会好像没有改变？觉得信仰已经不能带给你预期的亢奋了？觉得信仰好象脱离了生活的实际需要？

不要放弃！神知道你累了，需要好好休息，补充体力。神的恩典是够你用的，他要引领你走更远的路！不要把自己看得过高，纵然没有你，神的国是要继续的。然而，当你选择退下来时，最终损失的是你自己。不要把注意力集中在某次成功或失败的经历上，因为要走的路很远，最后的战役还未打完，加油！

你在这里做什么？

以利亚继续路程，跑了四十天，到了何烈山。这里是当年摩西遇见神，从神那里领受律法的西乃山。摩西曾经轰轰烈烈地带领以色列人出埃及，过红海，进入应许之地迦南。摩西在旷野飘流四十年，在西乃山盘留四十天！神要以利亚重新走一遍摩西的事奉历程。

神在西乃山呼召摩西，今天他也重新在那里呼召以利亚，让他经历神的同在，并且从新寻着生命的意义与方向。

以利亚来的何烈山后，却是躲在山洞内，他再次把自己封闭起来。于是神的话临到他：『以利亚，你在这里做什么？』（9节）

以利亚将自己心底的不满表达出来后，神向以利亚显现，说：『你出来站在山上，在我耶和华面前。』（11节）

这时烈风大作，崩山碎石，神却不在其中。然后地震，地震后有火，神也不在其中。火后有微小的声音，神在其中向先知说话：『以利亚啊，你在这里做什么？』（13节）。

原来神是一位行事吊诡，以隐藏的方式来启示自己的神！这是什么意思呢？

显然，耶和华神要以利亚臣服在他的主权。以利亚期望在诸般神迹大能中看见神的同在，但神却不一定以这种方式显现，反倒是发出微小的声音。耶和华神要纠正以利亚的问题。他的失望，正是因为把自己的期望等同了神的期望。

神最后帮助以利亚的方法，就是在再次给他新的使命。神差派以利亚做三件事：膏立哈薛作亚兰王，因为神要借着外邦的王来惩罚以色列的罪。然后膏立耶户，好叫耶户从以色列内部，动工除灭所有敬拜巴力的人。最后膏立以利沙作伙伴人与接班人，在以色列民众里，继续燃烧复兴的火。

最后，神重申以利亚不是孤单的，而且也不该看自己过高。原来他在以色列民中存留七千人，未曾向巴力屈膝的（18节）。

神给以利亚新的托付，乃是以行动向以利亚证明他还是在工作，还是控制大局！而且说明，他没有放弃以利亚，因此以利亚也不要自暴自弃，不要把眼目看在自己的失败与软弱之上，而是聚焦在神的使命，做他的仆人。

许多人和以利亚一样，以为神一定在轰轰烈烈，耀人眼目的情景下工作。然而，神往往选择在柔和，不起眼的地方，或在微声中启示他自己。在人们以为平淡无奇，没有人在意的情景下，原来神还在工作，还是在控制着大局的！

今天神也挑战你，从『山洞』里出来，面对世界的不完美，接受现实的世界和现实的自己。信仰和事奉生命不是每天都在亢奋状态的。迦密山之役终会过去，明天你还是要过着平凡，自然的生活。在信仰及事奉生命遇到波折或障碍的时候，神仍然在暗中主管这一切。

神向你发出微小的声音：『路还是有很远，你在这里做什么？』

让我们重新振作，起来忠心服侍神。

The Kingdom Game Theory

John 5:1-15

Jesus Healed 

the Paralytic at Bethesda

There was a place called Bethesda near the Temple in Jerusalem. It was dubbed the “Sheep Gate” because sheep were led through here to their slaughter place. It had a pool with a fountain beneath it. Every once in a while, the fountain would emit bubbles and the water in the pool would be stirred. People believed that angels were stirring the pool water. Whoever got into the pool first while the water was stirring would have their sickness or disease healed.

Excavation around the Pool of Bethesda revealed that it was surrounded by four pillars, which divided the place into five colonnades. Modern archaeology proves the accuracy of the biblical record that the Pool of Bethesda was located at the Sheep Gate.

There was a man lying beside the Pool of Bethesda for a long time. He had been sick for 38 years. Jesus took the initiative to approach him and asked, “Do you want to get well?”

The invalid man did not give a direct answer. Instead, he replied, “Sir, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” (v. 7)

This man was a paralytic. He was simply too weak to compete with others physically. So, he could never be the first to jump into the pool to be healed. Now that Jesus came to talk to him, he thought that Jesus intended to help him into the water as it stirred. But Jesus did not do it his way. Jesus was certainly willing to help and heal the paralytic but the approach He used was far beyond what the man could imagine.

Then, Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once, the man was healed – he picked up his mat and walked (vv. 8-9)! God’s amazing grace came upon the paralytic through Jesus Christ!

Be Gracious and Courageous for God is Gracious to Us

The Pool of Bethesda was a place where the hope for healing was offered to the sick, who were helpless and in despair. The blind, the lame, and the paralyzed would definitely want to give it a try.

Yet, the Pool of Bethesda was also considered a cursed place. There were many sick people lying there groaning and gazing sorrowfully at the pool. The sound of sorrow, anguish, and tears of disappointment resounded among the colonnades, birthed from hearts craving to be healed.

All of a sudden, there was a stir in the pool and everyone rushed for it! They stepped on one another. They tussled, pushing and pulling, in order to be the winner. Yet, ironically, the water in the pool might become still the moment the winner got into it!

Everybody wanted to be the first to get healed. Nobody paid attention to the others. The sick were tormented and defeated inwardly again and again before they could receive their physical healing.  As a result, the sick may have shifted their trust from God to the Pool. They became rivals instead of fellow countrymen.

The Pool of Bethesda was supposed to be a place where God’s love and mercy could be experienced, but it was turned into a platform for human cruelty and selfishness.

In summary, the Pool of Bethesda reveals to us the religiosity and rigidity of Jewish tradition. It became a routine and was useless in touching lives. The logic behind its operation was “first come first served; winner takes all.” Whoever got into the water first would be healed.

Certainly, the one who eventually got healed would neither be the one who suffered from the most critical condition nor the weakest among all. It would not be the one who needed healing the most. Jesus came to overthrow and to pronounce His judgment upon the rigidness of this Jewish tradition, which was derived from man-made religion.

The paralytic believed in the words of Jesus and he was healed. He responded to Jesus, who was the Word, and “the Word was with God in the beginning” (John 1:2). What Jesus said was the Word of God. His truth brings life to us for “grace and truth come from Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

Our society is like the Pool of Bethesda. It is fraught with weak and helpless people. People are suffering and struggling. Unfortunately, they are all bound by worn-out traditions and legalistic beliefs. They abandon themselves to sin and drift along in the sea of failures and dejections in life. Still, people are fighting against one another. They are stepping on each other so that they may end up the winner.

Those who received healing in the Pool of Bethesda were the strongest among the sick. These are the self-righteous. They were healed by virtue of their physical superiority. They found themselves indebted to nobody. Those who have this type of attitude will not be grateful. They will find it hard to be compassionate towards the sick. They will be responsible to neither God nor society.

In contrast, the salvation that Jesus offered to the paralytic reflected the free grace and sovereignty of God. The paralytic was healed even though he did not place his trust in Jesus. He had no idea from the outset that Jesus was the Healer.

The Jews saw the formerly paralyzed man carrying his mat. Apparently, it was not lawful for him to do that on a Sabbath. So, they rebuked him harshly. He replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” But he had no idea who was his Healer (v11-13).

Jesus gives us His salvation free of charge but it is not cheap grace. It is priceless grace from God. The Son of God gave Himself up as a living sacrifice in order to save the world. We should not boast that we have received salvation. It is God who chose us from the multitude. He freely grants us mercy and grace.

We are men and women redeemed by His mercy! May this understanding take root in our hearts, so that we may be inspired to take on our Kingdom responsibilities to show love, mercy, and compassion toward others.

How do you see yourself before God today? Are you the self-righteous and strong one? Or, are you the weak one who is blessed by God’s mercy? Are you merciful and gracious to your neighbours? May the Spirit of God move our hearts and open our eyes to see that we are indebted to our neighbours.

Let’s go all out this day to show mercy to the needy and the weak. Let us extend the grace we have received from God to others because we too are merely sinners who received the grace of God. Be gracious to people particularly those who are near us. We often neglect or act merciless to them.

On the other hand, we need not worry about our own weaknesses, limitations, or difficulties to the extent that we dare not embark on new undertakings or accept new challenges. God’s grace is sufficient for us to overturn the rules of the game, which are “first come first serve,” “the fastest is the victor,” and “the survival of the fittest.”

God’s grace enables the weak to be strong and the poor to be rich. The Lord Jesus said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Cor. 12:9).

Persevere to the End and You Shall be Saved

What else can we do since we are saved solely by the grace of God?

Although the paralytic did not place his trust in Jesus and did not even know Jesus personally, he did not succumb to his situation. He had a strong desire to live on. It is true that he did say that no one helped him to get into the pool as the water stirred. We can translate what he said to mean, “I am not able to compete with others.” It is true that this carried the undertones of complaining, murmuring, and accusation.

Nevertheless, he did not leave the Pool of Bethesda throughout the years. He maintained a strong believe that a miracle would ultimately happen to him. This serves as a strong reminder to those of us who give up easily when we are frustrated, weakened, and distracted by our circumstances.

God’s sovereignty, His mercy, and human faith are what it takes for God’s miracle to happen. These prerequisites are not mutually exclusive. Jesus is the one who takes the initiative to invite men and women to experience God’s great power and mercy as long as they persevere and do not give up or despair even if their faith is small and possess only a nodding acquaintance with Him.

It is not difficult for us to describe what it means to live in a perfect world, or be part of a perfect church, or have the perfect physical appearance. But it will be far more difficult for us to live responsibly and persevere in the reality of imperfection. However, we have to assume our responsibility and live our lives to the full by faith. We need to be filled with determination, hope, and courage regardless of what situation we may face.

In reality, what seems to be imperfect is actually perfect. Flaws and defects found in one’s appearances are sometimes where the attraction lies! This is a paradox! It is in the midst of an imperfect world where honorable character traits are forged. For example, courage, accountability, spirit of self-sacrifice, mutual help and support, the joy of repentance and the forgiveness of sins, mutual acceptance (including seemingly imperfect outward appearances), gratitude, compassion, hope, etc.

Therefore, it is pointless for us to blame God for not creating a perfect world that is undefiled by sin.

No matter how helpless you feel, how pathetic your situation now, Jesus is always there to care for your deepest concerns. Jesus meets your every need whenever you are downcast. Do not lose hope in the midst of the difficulties and discouragements you are encountering. God has His perfect will even if the circumstances are gloomy.

Miracles will happen if we persist in waiting upon the Lord. There will be reward for us. Just as Jesus healed the paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda, He will do it unto us. Persevere until the end and we shall be saved! God will grant us His mercy so that our conditions will improve. We shall break free from our predicament and our lives shall be renewed by Him.

Make My Life A Fragrant Offering

Mark 14:1-11

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

It was two days before Passover. The chief priests and the scribes were plotting to arrest and kill Jesus but they were afraid to do so during the feast because such actions may cause the crowd to riot. But Jesus withdrew from the city and had a meal in the house of Simon the leper (vv. 1-3).

During the feast, a woman came forward with an alabaster jar containing very costly perfume of pure nard. Without saying a word, she shattered her jar and poured the perfume over Jesus’ head (v. 3).

Both Gospels according to Matthew and Mark placed this event happened at the time of Passover, just before the Last Supper, to indicate that Jesus’ anointing foreshadowed His death. And Gospel according to John tells us that this woman is Mary of Bethany (John 12:3).

The container of the perfume was an alabaster jar and because it had a small opening, the ointment could only be obtained drop by drop in small quantities. Obviously, when she shattered the jar, her intention was to pour out all its content.

Pure nard was very costly. Thus, those who watched what just transpired said, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor” (vv. 4-5).

Previously, in the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, the disciples questioned Jesus, “Are we really to spend two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat (Mark 6:37)?”

Two hundred denarii worth eight months of wages while three hundred denarii worth a year of wages. Thus, the ointment seems costing more than feeding five thousand people.

But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her” (Mark 14:6-9).

Although Mary, quietly and rightly, offered up her most precious ointment, yet she was criticised by others. A person who is fully committed to her faith will cause others to feel uncomfortable. But Jesus knew her sacrifice. He spoke out in her defence and praised her publicly.

Jesus was always compassionate to the poor. Jesus did not deny the importance of helping the poor but He challenged the disciples, do not only do a good deed, but do it in the right time, and also do a beautiful thing for Him.

The disciples were thinking of how to bring change to others and their surroundings but Jesus wanted them to first change themselves by drawing closer to His heart, which means to regard Him with utmost love, respect, and devotion and to be willing to sacrifice to Him what is most precious.

In the Old Testament, we read of kings, priests, and prophets being anointed. Mary’s anointing of Jesus depicts Him as king, priest, and prophet. But Jesus’ anointing as the Christ (meaning, the “Anointed One”) was not so that He would seize power but that He would die on the cross to save sinners.

If we look at the structure of our text, we will see that the story of what Mary did is sandwiched between the narratives of the Jewish religious leaders’ plan to kill Jesus and Judas’ betrayal of the Lord.

Religious leaders plan to arrest Jesus and kill him	Verses1-2
Mary anoints Jesus at Bethany	Verses 3-9
Judas betrays Jesus	Verses 10-11

When placed in between these two narratives where the main characters plot to harm Jesus, this story of a lowly woman’s love for Jesus is all the more striking. Mary’s action contrasts against the actions of the Jewish leaders and Judas. This challenges us, as readers, to choose whom we would emulate.

Will we change our hearts to be closer to His heart as Mary did?

Love without Reservation

Mary did not hesitate even though the alabaster jar and the ointment were costly. Rather, she shattered the jar and unreservedly poured out the precious ointment upon Jesus’ head. This also means that she would not be able to use this flask of ointment again.

Mary offered up without reservation. This echoes an earlier text where a poor widow offered up two small copper coins, in Mark 12:41-44:

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Both were women, and both quietly offered up everything and were commended as examples for those who are disciples of the Lord. The difference is between precious ointment and two small copper coins. Both women poured out all her offering to the Lord. How is your offering to Jesus?

Mary was not troubled by the cost. She was not afraid of the criticism from others. She humbly and lovingly served Jesus. What should be our attitude when we serve the Lord? It is easy for us to dream, have a vision, and be touched. But why is that so hard for these not to translate into action?

Perhaps our love for Jesus has faded or gone cold. Perhaps we are no longer responsive to the Word of God and have lost the enthusiasm for worship. Perhaps we are dissatisfied with the pastor and church leadership. Or, perhaps we are those who complain angrily, “Why this waste?”

We have so much reservation. We are unwilling to shatter our “alabaster jar.” What is your “alabaster jar” that has a constraint on you?

Is it time or financial constraint? Or a mentality that is unwilling to pay the price? Or is it our overreliance on others?  Or is it our reluctance to leave our comfort zone?

Love is unreserved! May the Lord help us to change our hearts to be more attuned to the heart of Jesus, which is to “shatter the jar” and offer up to the Lord that which is most precious to us.

Doing a Beautiful Thing to Jesus

Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me…” Why is this beautiful?

When Israel had their first Passover, they were saved by applying the blood of the lamb on their door frames and were led by God out of slavery in Egypt. Jesus is the Lamb of God who bled and sacrificed His life to save the world from the bondage of sin (1 Cor. 5:7).

Mary’s anointing of Jesus is to prepare Him to be the sacrificial Lamb that substitutes for sin. He will be killed and be buried. On the morning of the resurrection, a group of women rushed to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus but the tomb was already empty. Mary had seized the opportunity to anoint Jesus’ body while He was still alive. Surely this was a beautiful thing!

Mary did not delay in seizing the opportunity to accomplish a beautiful thing for Jesus. Thus, Jesus did not allow anyone to chide her.

Let us not be hesitant, indifferent or keeping ourselves from getting involved. Let us change our hearts and draw closer to Jesus through seizing the opportunity to sacrifice for the kingdom of God. Otherwise, in the future, we will sigh with regret and say, “Alas, if only I had done such and such…”

Jesus Himself said, “Wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her” (Mark 14:9).

The gospel is not only an abstract concept or a manifesto, such as, “God loves you; Christ died for you.” The gospel is woven with real and concrete stories of countless lowly and nameless people who met Jesus and offered themselves up for Him.

The Lord knows of Mary’s quiet sacrifice and He also knows of the quiet sacrifices that each and every one of us made. When you and I offer up our all to Jesus and draw near to His heart, we take on the role of the characters in the gospel story. This surely is a beautiful thing!

Mary’s action of shattering the jar and anointing Jesus echoes Jesus’ sacrifice of His own body to bring salvation to humanity. Later on, when Jesus was having supper with the disciples, He took bread and, having given thanks, broke it and said, “This is My body… (v. 22)” Earlier on, Jesus took five loaves and two fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and distributed them to feed five thousand people (6:41).

Mary’s act of shattering the alabaster jar and anointing Jesus, seem to remind and to urge Jesus to go to the cross to die and have His body “broken”. From this perspective, Mary’s action of shattering her jar and anointing Jesus is certainly a beautiful thing.

We remember what Mary and Jesus did: “shatter, break, and distribute.” How shall this be remembered?

Let us, likewise, “shatter, break, and distribute” to accomplish a beautiful thing for the Lord.

All of us have an “alabaster jar” that needs to be shattered. When the jar is shattered, the ointment is poured out and its aroma fills and permeates the place. This symbolises our lives being a channel of God’s blessing so that everyone around us is blessed.

May the love of God inspire us once more and may the Holy Spirit give us strength. Whether we are serving in the church, at our workplaces, at home, or at school, we ought to fulfil our responsibilities as good and faithful servants of the Lord by offering our talents, money, and time to extend the kingdom of God and be a witness to the Lord’s holy name!