Holy Week - Wednesday

On this day our Lord remained withdrawn in silence at Bethany, preparing Himself for the agony that awaited Him.

In the house of Simon the Leper, He was anointed by a woman, in preparation for His burial.

Judas was bargaining with the chief priests to betray Him.

Mark 14:1-11

A day of contrasts.
Judas is busy; secret meetings with enemies, money changes hands, greed is satisfied.
Jesus is quiet; no parables, no apocalyptic discourses, no signs.
 
A woman comes, no name given, but her story told wherever the gospel goes. She recognises Jesus: no, she doesn't know about the Trinity, or the incarnation, or the hypostatic union. She has not been trained in Creed or Confession - but she recognises Jesus.
The Jesus before her is worthy;
    worthy of her love,
    worthy of her devotion,
    worthy of her perfume,
    worthy of her tears.
The Jesus before her is greater;
    greater than any man she has known, (in all the senses of that word)
    greater than her fear,
    greater than her shame,
    greater than her need.
 
So she comes, she honours Jesus with the best she has and is accepted by him and given as an example for all to follow.
 
There's a Brenton Brown song 'Jesus You Are Worthy', I don't know how to copy audio files into a blog, so here are the words:
 
Jesus you are mercy, Jesus you are justice
Jesus you are worthy that is what you are
you died alone to save me, your rose so you could raise me
you did this all to make me a chosen child of God

(How) Worthy is the Lamb that once was slain
To receive all glory power and praise
For with your blood you purchased us for God
Jesus you are worthy, that is what you are.

Perfect sacrifice crushed by God for us
bearing in your hurt all that I deserve
misjudged for my misdeeds you suffered silently
he only guiltless man in all of history.

Brenton Brown

We bought this cd last week at Keswick and I've been listening to it since coming home, in the car and on the train to 121 yesterday.

What a great set of songs. Just now a favourite is 'Come Let Us Return (Gloria)'. A song which begins as a praise song ends up in a prayer for mercy and for God to establish justice.

Let mercy rise like praise to your throne,
let mercy rise like praise to you throne
Father touch your church, 'til justice fills the earth
Let mercy rise like praise to your throne

Check out Brenton's web site here, and there is a my space page where you can hear this song.
I hope you like it. Thanks to Fred Drummond for recommending Brenton's music, good one Fred!