Celebrate Life

Notes taken at our Bible Study at our Church on Sunday Mornings

 

 

Jesus was fast approaching the time of his death, burial and resurrection.  Realizing this, He tried to prepare his disciples.

Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Bethany to enjoy a meal at Simon the leper's house:  Matthew 26: Jesus said to his disciples, “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” 

Any mention of Jesus dying, or leaving them fell on deaf ears, for the disciples could not accept what he was saying. 

 

Reading from different Gospels we view Jesus dining at the Pharisee's home, when in comes a  woman carrying an expensive alabaster box to anoint Jesus.  She kneels at his feet weeping and kisses his feet as she wipes his feet with her long hair.  This event shocked the guests and they complained about the waste because they knew the cost of the ointment was about a years wages.  Jesus said to leave her alone because she has done this to anoint my body for my burial.  Matthew 26:13 "Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”  

Jesus was worthy for her to do this and He accepted her wonderful gift with gratitude.

John 11:1  Lazarus, a friend of Jesus was sick, from the town of Bethany where his sisters Mary and Martha lived.  (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

Luke 7:36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

All the guests were watching, and their criticism had to deal with first MONEY and second AUTHORITY.

Jesus used his right to forgive sin, and began to teach about forgiveness.  Who will love me most?  The simple answer was he who has been forgiven much.

Mary left a new woman.  She was not the same adulteress woman, but her life was changed to a righteous lady, and she could now CELEBRATE  LIFE.