Tag: bible

Ep.471: John 12: Perfume and Poverty.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.

If you were Jesus, would you choose Judas as treasurer? Knowing that he was stealing from the money bag and preparing to betray you? 

My church has stricter standards. Thieves not welcome anywhere near our treasury!

Despite his faults, Judas thought clearly about cost-benefit and return on investment. In John 12, Mary, sister of Lazarus who Jesus raised from the dead, took a jar of pure nard perfume, worth maybe $50,000 today and poured it on Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. 

A deeply disturbing act. What an extravagant show of love and worship, with complete disregard for expense. Judas, the treasurer, was shocked, shocked. Doing a quick cost-benefit analysis, he said, “What a waste! We could have sold that and given the proceeds to the poor!” (v 4-5).

Gospel writer John was not convinced. He says, “Judas didn’t care about the poor. He had his hand in the money bag.” An extra $50 grand? Judas would be glad to take care of it. 

Jesus defended Mary’s extravagance. “Don’t criticize. She is anointing me for my burial. The poor will always be with you, but I won’t be here much longer” (v 7). 

Two comments. 

Did Mary understand that Jesus would soon die? Jesus had just finished proving he is  the resurrection and the life. So what’s this burial he’s talking about? 

My second comment. This story finishes the first half of John’s gospel. Jesus has publicly revealed himself as God’s son, as one with God, as one who holds power over life and death. Some believed. Many rejected the light. 

Now the story moves to Jesus’ private ministry, as he prepares his disciples for the next stage of the journey. 

Let’s pray. 

O father, like Judas we are obsessed with money. We measure our days by our income, and our identity by our treasures. We hoard and indulge instead of blessing and giving.

O father, root out the Judas spirit from our hearts. Teach us to see you through a lens of love, not through a lens of money. Help us hold our treasures loosely. Help us use them for worship, for good works. Help us to be givers and lovers. 

Amen.

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube.

Ep.408: Old Time Religion.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In the Old Testament, Moses climbed Mt. Sinai to meet God and receive the Ten Commandments. Afterward, he built God’s tent, the tabernacle, which God filled with glory. 

In Mark 9 Jesus also climbed a mountain. God shone his glory, and Moses and Elijah came to speak with Jesus. Once again, God spoke.

But not before Peter offered his bit of wisdom. “Why don’t we build three tabernacles?  One each for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah” (Mark 9:5). 

Is Peter’s suggestion weird, or what? It’s so weird that the gospel writer apologizes on Peter’s behalf. “He didn’t know what to say, they were so frightened,” says Mark (Mark 9:6). 

For me, it’s usually better to stay silent when I’m out of my depth. But it wasn’t Peter who taught me that lesson.  

After Peter’s suggestion, God intervened saying, “This is my  son whom I love. Listen to him” (Mark 9:7). 

My comments. 

Peter partly understood what was happening. On a mountain, God gave Moses the law and blueprints for a tabernacle. On a mountain, God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice. And now, on a mountain, Jesus, Elijah, and Moses were together. Clearly, Peter was witnessing an important historical event. 

In Peter’s mind, God’s glory, the three famous men, and the history of mountain top experiences converged and stirred his imagination. His mindset: “We could start a movement here. Let’s make the tabernacle great again. Let’s make the old-time religion of Elijah great again. This time it’ll be even better because Jesus is here!”  

Peter was badly confused. Jesus’ mission was not to make Moses and Elijah great again. Jesus had a different mission, that Peter was struggling to grasp. 

Fortunately, God spoke into Peter’s confusion. He pointed to Jesus: “This is the son I love. Listen to him.” The time for Moses’ ministry and Elijah’s ministry was past. It was time to hear what Jesus had to say. 

Let’s pray. 

O father, we hear many voices in scripture. Commandments from Moses the lawgiver. Miracles and judgment from Elijah the prophet. Peter’s impulsive voice, Let’s start a Three Tents movement. 

Help us listen to Jesus, the son you love. Peter identified Jesus as your anointed one, the Messiah, the Christ. This we need. Not the law, not the prophets, but your son, setting things right for us.

Give us ears to hear his voice, discernment to understand his message, faithfulness to follow his call. Help us not to live in the past, trying to restore the religion of our fathers. Help us to face the future where Jesus is leading us. 

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube