Is there anyone who doesn’t love an unexpected gift? It doesn’t matter much whether you’re already feeling on top of the world or in the deepest, darkest night of the soul, an unexpected gift lifts our spirits and cheers our hearts!
There is an event recorded in Mark 14 where Jesus received an unexpected gift. Those around him criticized the woman for her extravagant act of anointing him with costly perfume, but put yourself in Jesus’ place for a moment. He knew what was coming – an onrushing freight train of anguish, weariness, torture and death. Don’t forget – he was God, but he was also human, and his spirit was heavy, I’m sure.
Then, out of the blue, this woman anoints him. Listen to what Jesus says: She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her. — Mark 14:8-9
We don’t have an exact chronology of how long before his arrest and trial this took place, but perhaps the fragrance of the perfume lingered on him in the garden, in custody, before Caiaphas and Herod. Perhaps as he walked the pathway to the cross the crowd could detect it. For Jesus, it was an unexpected gift of love and kindness, and I am confident it meant a lot to him or he would not have praised her so highly.
So, here we are, face to face (almost) with Good Friday. I am struck with two thoughts:
ONE: on Good Friday we all received the most amazing unexpected gift of all time: redemption from sin. It was not only an unexpected gift, but a totally undeserved one. How long has it been since you really, deeply received the reality of this gift of the Son of God who bore your sins so you could stand sinless before the Creator of the universe? How are you celebrating it?
TWO: the woman gave an unexpected gift to Jesus, and it moved his spirit. What gift are you preparing to give to Jesus today or this week? It will pale in comparison to the gift he has given to us, but just as the gift of the perfume moved Jesus to memorialize this woman’s act forever, your unexpected gift can also touch his heart.
What will you give him? Think about it. Pray over it. Then give it!
PRAYER: Jesus, there is no way we can ever thank you enough for your most unexpected gift and kindness toward us, but we pray that you will accept our heartfelt gifts to you this week. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Copyright 2024 by Galen C. Dalrymple.
DayBreaks Devotions 