Jesus returns to Bethany, outside Jerusalem. A dinner is given in his honor (v2). Martha serves Jesus (v2). Mary spares no expense honoring Jesus. She washes his feet with expensive perfume and humbles herself by wiping his feet with her hair (v3). A large crowd of Jews comes to see Jesus (v9). Many Jews are putting their faith in Jesus (v11). When Jesus enters Jerusalem, the crowd rejoices and welcomes him as the Messiah. They wave palm branches and declare Jesus as their savior (v13).
All of these things glorified Jesus. "This is getting us nowhere", the Pharisees complained. Perhaps this was unwittingly prophetic. If Jesus had *only* been glorified the way the crowd intended - as a powerful King - we would all be dead in our sins. Jesus' ministry would have gotten us nowhere. Nobody in the crowd understood the way that God intended for Jesus to be glorified - as the lamb that was slain to take away the sins of the world. God intended that Mary's perfume be used for Jesus' burial (v7). Jesus tells his friends that he will not always be with them (v8). It is stated that the disciples did not understand the scriptures that were fulfilled in the triumphal entry until "after Jesus was glorified". As Jesus said, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me" (John 8:54). People were glorifying Jesus, but none of them knew what would come next.
I am sad to say that the same is true of me sometimes. I may *think* that what I am doing is glorifying God. But if what I do is outside of His will, however well intended, it is wrong. Lord God, please teach me to follow you and truly seek Your will. Speak to me and show me even a little of Your glory.
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True True... As good as some actions seem to us and even to others if they are not part of God's will for our lives then they do not glorify Him.
ReplyDeletev17-18 Spoke to me.....v18 states that people kept coming out to meet Jesus because (v17) the people present when Lazarus was raised "continued to testify" about Jesus. In (v10-11) we are reminded that if we continue to testify, fellowship with Jesus the world id not going to like it! Not liking it even to point of wanting to kill us. Is that sentiment so far removed today.... OR do I just not standup for and testify enough about Jesus to provoke that response?