The Best of the Portals of Prayer

Read: Matthew 26:6-16 / Psalm 118:1-7

“She has done a beautiful thing to Me.”
Matthew 26:10

A Beautiful Thing

In happened in a house in Bethany. A woman anointed Jesus with a costly perfume/ointment. Some of the disciples criticized her. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor. This sent Judas over the top; his covetousness matured into betrayal and, ultimately, he took his life. Sin always takes us on a downward spiral, and it becomes ugly, not beautiful. When the attitude of Judas gets the upper hand in our lives, it leads to us taking our own spiritual life.
The ugliness of sin into eternal death can be changed by something beautiful. The Gospel in truly something beautiful. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him” [John 3:16-17]. The suffering and death of Jesus is not pretty, but it is beautiful. In that sacrifice is our forgiveness and our peace with God. The woman anointed Jesus for His burial and was criticized for it. Jesus defended her and said it was a beautiful thing. We know His love, we know His cross.
Jesus, comfort me with Your forgiveness, and strengthen me in faith, that my life may be beautiful for you. Amen.

March 18, 2008