March 17

Matthew 26:1-16 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:

Journal Entry

Scripture

10But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."

Observation

A Beautiful Thing to Jesus

I believe it is reasonably safe to assume that considering someone, something or some action to be beautiful is quite subjective. For example, I have a bit of difficulty saying artificial flowers to be beautiful, no matter how real and natural they appear to be. It is evident that the disciples didn’t have the same understanding on the action of this woman. They thought she was wasting a great deal of fortune on nothing (v. 8). However, Jesus called it a beautiful thing because it was pleasing to him who was about to be crucified (v. 12).

I have a friend who is now in a mission field. I still remember how I first got to meet him. Actually, he approached me first and asked me whether I would be able to spend a few minutes after Sunday worship. I said yes, and was led to a small room behind our worship place (This was when Young Nak was on Fairfax). Straight to the point, he asked this question without any hesitation, “Are you born again?” “What is born again?” was my response. To make a long story short, that question urged me to think about my church life, and eventually helped me to find authentic faith in Jesus. And whenever I think of this friend, the first encounter on that day always comes to my mind. Why? Because it was a beautiful thing he did to Jesus for me: he made himself a fool for the sake of Jesus (1 Cor. 4:10).

I wonder how many beautiful things I do to Jesus these days?

Application

I believe the most beautiful thing I could do to Jesus is to introduce people to him. People would benefit eternally once they establish this personal relationship with him. And I am doing something beautiful to him for it would make him greatly rejoice and celebrate (Luke 15). However, it is a challenging life style because I would need to carve out time away from my Christian surroundings to actually do this beautiful thing to Jesus for these lost souls.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I plead with you to grant me a refreshed compassion for the lost and a growing passion for personal evangelism. I desire to experience an awesome power of God in and through my contact with these precious souls. I know for the fact that it is not going to be natural at all for me to have this life style. Help me, O God! In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen

--p. han song