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Reflections

Women Who Walked With Jesus

Part 3

As we approach Easter, let’s meet some women who walked with Jesus to the Cross and empty tomb, and finally to the Upper Room. Each of them has a message for us in our personal walk with the Lord.

Mary of Bethany - A life of devotion to Christ

A footpath from Jerusalem led to the small town of Bethany where Jesus frequently stopped to visit Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary. Though we don’t see them often we know they were dear friends of the Master.

Mary, we assume by implication, is the younger sister who appears in only three scriptural accounts. Each time, she is seen at the feet of Jesus—a very good place to be. We don’t know all that happened on that first occasion, except that Jesus and His disciples had come to their home for dinner after an extended period of teaching.

Every woman who has tried to prepare Sunday dinner for a houseful of guests will understand Martha’s attitude when she asks the Lord to tell Mary to come out in the kitchen and help. (We’ll talk about that next week.) But the Lord commends Mary: “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42, NIV).

The second picture of Mary shows her as she falls at Jesus’ feet in grief over the death of her brother (John 11:32). When Jesus sees her weeping, He is moved with compassion and proceeds to the burial place where He raises Lazarus from the dead.

The final picture is of Mary’s lavish act of love as she anoints Jesus’ feet and wipes them with her hair. She seems to be the only one who understands His coming death. This time the disciples, especially Judas, criticize her but Jesus commends her saying, “…she has done a beautiful thing…” (Mark 14:6, NIV).

What do these pictures tell us about this remarkable woman, and what can she teach us about following Jesus? In a capsule, we draw some conclusions about her value system:

Learning from Jesus is more important than dinner or duty;
Leaning on Jesus is more comforting than being with friends;
Loving Jesus is more valuable than saving for future burial.

Mary learned from Jesus at a time when rabbis would not have taught a woman. Mary leaned on Jesus for comfort when the comfort of friends was inadequate. Mary apparently had insight about His impending death which no one else had. She loved Jesus enough to give Him her very best.

“She did what she could” Jesus said, and added that she would always be remembered for her action (Mark 14:8, NIV). That statement has been one of the most challenging of my life as I have wondered: Can Jesus say that about me—that I have done what I could?

Perhaps He will, if I follow Mary’s example and sit often at His feet.

Points to Ponder:

How would the world change if we all followed Mary’s example and simply did what we could? Too often we look at the big things that need doing and feel helpless because we cannot do them—and in our weakness we overlook the small things we can do.

God asked Moses: “What is that in your hand?” He may be asking the same question of all of us. I firmly believe He wants to use each of us where we are with what we have in our hands and hearts. He does not ask us to do what we cannot do, but what we can.

PEGGY MUSGROVE is a licensed Assemblies of God minister. She is also a speaker, freelance writer, author and prayer group leader. Her latest book, Musings of a Maraschino Cherry was released in 2004.. You can visit her at www.musgroveville.com.

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