How Much Do We Care?

Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. ² A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. ³ Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. ⁴ But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, ⁵ “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” ⁶ Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.
John 12:1-6

As we go through this week leading up to Easter, let's take a look at some of the interesting things about Jesus' life during this week that we often overlook because we don't really understand or they seem to be mere footnotes in history.

In this passage, Jesus is at the home of the same Lazarus whom He raised from the dead.  Martha prepared a dinner in Jesus' honor and Lazarus ate with Him.  Now Mary, who had sat at the feet of Jesus and listened intently to Him teach.  As the they are eating, she takes a HUGE jar of EXPENSIVE perfume and washes Jesus' feet with it and then dries His feet with her hair.

Okay.....saddle up......'What's so big about dabbing a bit of perfume on Jesus' feet?'  Well, in Jesus' time, the feet were the most unclean part of the human body because people and animals tended to leave everything in the roadways, so as one is traveling from place to place the feet stepped in all sorts of detritus. Which is why one of the hallmarks of a gracious host was to make sure the traveler had their feet washed BEFORE entering the home.  Mary not only washed Jesus' feet, she washed them with an entire pound of perfume that cost a laborer an entire year's salary.  How many of us would give up a year's wages to perform a single act of graciousness to Jesus?   

Mary also dried Jesus' feet with her own hair.  Now she has washed the journey's crud from Jesus feet with this expensive perfume, and now she's wiping with her hair which would perfume her hair as well as pick up much of the road gunk from Jesus' feet.  How many of us would be so humble as to take care of someone with in such a way?

Enter Judas (yes, THAT Judas), who complains about the "wasting" of this perfume which he claimed could be sold and the money used to help the poor.  Well, let's consider this for a moment.  IF Mary had surrendered this perfume to be sold, because of the cost, selling it would be a challenge.  Not to mention the fact that John pulls no punches when he calls Judas a thief.

Beginning to get the picture? 

Finally, yes I'm almost finished, Mary made a sacrifice by doing the unthinkable while Judas' only act was to complain.  Are we Mary or Judas?

Gandhi Got It Right!

Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2 

Mahatma Gandhi once said, "You my BE the change you wish to see in the world."   Have you looked at the world lately?  Chaos is becoming more and more prevalent.  It's as if the whole world has gone insane, and our leaders seem helpless to bring about change because they are too afraid of offending people who might just vote for them.  And our world seems to be on a downward spiral.  What are we to do? Is all lost?  Are we helpless?

Have you ever wanted to make a positive change that would have lasting effects?  Ever want to change the world...until you look at the world and that challenge seems to be such a daunting task that you just cannot fathom how you, being one person, can make a difference that will matter!

John Mayer performed a song called "Waiting for the World to Change."  The song itself is one I enjoy, but think what would happen if WE wait for the WORLD to change?  How long would we have to wait?

You see, Gandhi got it right!  WE must BE the change we wish to see in this world.  And we begin this process with the face in the mirror.  Our prayer should daily be, "Clean my heart and soul, Father, and help me SHOW You to others."  

Just as a point to ponder, a few weeks ago, someone (or group of someones) stocked one of the Department Substation's refrigerator with Gatorade as a way of just doing something nice and to tell the deputies "Thank You."  Was that a big effort?  To some it might be, to a group perhaps not.  The response to that effort was tremendous!  How do I know?  Because the deputies drank all the Gatorade and were so thankful for such a thoughtful act.

Consider this.....kind acts are not "one and done" acts.  Acts of kindness should be ongoing.  Eventually, people will ask you "why do you do that?" and you can tell them that you're weird like that. There are some who think this would be the moment to hammer the Gospel message, but I disagree.  We are called to plant seeds, not pound stone.

Small acts of kindness, have a huge impact!