Title [8.1] The Story of Beautiful Maria
content story
(John 12:1-8)
There are times in life when things happen that we just don't understand. These are the things that no matter how hard you try, you don't understand.
Why do these things happen, why do they happen to me? God's holy will is contained in it. “My thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways,” God says. God causes incomprehensible events in the lives of potential people, and through these events, he transforms us from weakness into people of God who believe in and hope for a wonderful plan.
In John 12, we see Jesus going to the house of Lazarus in Bethany. There was an incident where the dead Lazarus came to life the other day, and in gratitude for that event, Lazarus held a great feast for Jesus. There are two places where Jesus, who had no home during his public life, lived as his own. The house of Peter in Galilee and the house of Lazarus in Bethany. I hope that your home will be such a home where Jesus can rest.
Let's go back to the situation just before Lazarus' death. Hearing that Lazarus, not someone else, was out of breath, Jesus did not move at all. The disciples could not understand at all. That was not enough, and Jesus did not think of leaving for two days. On the third day after Lazarus had already died, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go!” Lazarus' family and disciples wanted Jesus to come before Lazarus died. But Jesus thought differently. He was waiting for Lazarus to die. Jesus is waiting for our self, our selfish thoughts to die.
On the fourth day after Lazarus was buried, Jesus went to the tomb. Martha could not hide her displeasure with Jesus. There are many times when we too have this kind of image in our life of faith. These are the thoughts, ‘I don’t care if God is like this to me after I donated so much,’ I heard that Jesus had come, but I didn’t even see him. Martha exhorted Mary to go to the tomb with Jesus. And you will witness the scene where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. God is waiting for our physical life to die. You have to die to live.
After this great event, Lazarus made a feast for Jesus. However, people were more interested in whether Lazarus was really alive than Jesus, and this made Lazarus the protagonist of the feast. Martha was working, and only in the name of a feast for Jesus, Jesus seemed to be behind the scenes. At this time, Mary came to Jesus with expensive perfume. When everyone's focus is on Lazarus, the action of just one woman shifts the focus of many to Jesus.
That is, Mary taught us why we come to church and why we need to serve. Overseas missions are good. But you must have the love of Jesus Christ in your heart. A heart focused on God must take priority.
There are many opportunities to serve and to give. However, you only have one chance to receive Jesus as your Savior and be saved. Don't miss that opportunity. I bless you in the name of the Lord that you will live a full life with your mind and soul focused on God.