Love Remains

It was an early day in the month of April. Temperatures in Jerusalem ranged from 65°F to 73°F. The religious leaders were gathered at the palace of the high priest. Note the word, “palace.” They were not planning a charitable event, praying or planning improvements to the pastoral services in their nation. The Bible says…

“[They] plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him.” [1] 

Not far away, in the home of a man with leprosy, Jesus is with His disciples. A woman feels compelled to pour her very expensive anointing oil on Jesus. His disciples become angry, but Jesus defends the woman. He says to them…

“Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this Gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” [2]

She did a good work for Jesus.

She believed that Jesus would die for the sins of the world.

She believed He was the Anointed One: “Messiah” (Hebrew) and “Christ” (Greek).

Wow! Jesus was being betrayed by religious leaders and by Judas (whose name means “Praise the Lord”). His disciples were about to forsake Him. The Romans were about to crucify Him… yet, this one woman… lavishes expensive anointing oil on Him. Jesus said…

“Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this Gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

I had the privilege of telling university students in Guangzhou, China, the story of this woman. They warmly embraced Jesus and the love that this woman showed Him. Praise the Lord!

Soon after this woman lovingly lavished her expensive oil on Jesus, Judas Iscariot held out his empty hand to receive thirty pieces of silver from the high priest and his supporters. [3]

Now in a garden, Jesus is speaking with His disciples. Suddenly, Judas arrives with a large group of men armed with swords and clubs. They are on the payroll of the chief priests. Judas kisses Jesus on the cheek to indicate to the swordsmen and to the club bearers that this one is Jesus.

But wait, suddenly, Peter strikes a servant of the high priest with his sword. Peter severs the man’s ear clean off. Jesus tells Peter to put away his sword…

“For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”

Jesus asks Peter…

“Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels (36,000-72,000 or perhaps “countless”)? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” Then, Jesus healed the injured man’s ear. [4]

“Thank You Lord Jesus for demonstrating love in the darkest hour of Your life. Please grant us the grace to demonstrate love to those around us during the darkest days on earth.”

“Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” [5]

[1] Matthew 26:3
[2] Matthew 26:10-13
[3] Matthew 26:14-15
[4] Matthew 26:47-54

[5] 1 Corinthians 13:13