Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Is it time to Rest a While?


John 11:54-12:1-8

“Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.” (John 11:54 ESV)  We need to understand that this solitude was not because He feared death, but was a time to prepare for His death.  It was a time to pour more truth into twelve men, and one of them He knew would betray Him.  If you examine the life of Jesus after His ministry began, you will see a pattern of solitude; an example is found in Matthew 14:23, “And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.  When evening came, he was there alone,” this is the account of feeding five thousand.  This account of Jesus withdrawing to a quiet place is common in the gospels, and we often forget how popular Jesus was.  Do you recall this event, the return of the twelve after Jesus had sent them out two by two, and they were telling Jesus all that had happen.  “And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.”  For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” (Mark 6:31)

Now it was Passover time and many of the Jews came from all over to Jerusalem to purify themselves.  And the talk of the town was, will Jesus show-up and the chief priest and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew of His whereabouts they were to tell them so they could arrest Him. 

Six days until Passover and Jesus and the twelve show-up in Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead.  So they had a dinner party with Martha serving and Lazarus was one of the ones reclining with Jesus at the table.  It was at that time that Mary took a pound of expensive ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus.  It was at this point that Judas Iscariot showed his true colors in that he ask why would Mary waste such ointment on Jesus when he could have sold it and given it to the poor?  (Note: Judas, like many in our government did not give a hoot for the poor, he was a thief, and thieves like to be in charge of the money, and like Judas, they often steal from the money bag.)  This was Jesus reply to Judas in this manner; “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.  The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” (John 12:7,8,)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

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