ENCOUNTERS WITH JESUS
«(This Mary, whose brother Lazarus no.» lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)» (John 11:2, NM).
The table was served. Simon, who was hosting the dinner, had been cured of leprosy and had become Jesus ‘s follower since then. Once healed, the revolting illness that had isolated him from society, had allowed him to restore his dignity.
Simon well remembered Mary and everything she had done. But in this story we see that although Jesus had worked in both lives, Simon only remembered his external healing. He treated her with disdain when he saw the gift she was giving Jesus.
He had also been unclean and had been given everything back because of Jesus, but he didn’t have an attitude of sincere gratefulness and acknowledgement. Mary did.
We often tend to remember our mistakes and the mistakes of others. Perhaps at that moment many remembered Simon as the leper, and Mary as the demon-possessed.
But John shows he had spent time with Jesus, he had learned to see the positive side in people. When beginning the story of Lazarus’s resurrection and mentioning his sisters, he could ‘ve written: (Mary, the demon-possessed prostitute). But he didn’t do that. When specifying who she was, he highlights the qualities for which she would truly be remembered forever. How much is implied in that explanation between parentheses!
«When to human eyes her case appeared hopeless, Christ saw in Mary capabilities for good. He saw the better traits of her character… Through His grace she became a partaker of the divine nature. The one who had fallen, and whose mind had been a habitation of demons, was brought very near to the Saviour in fellowship and ministry» (The Desire of Ages, ch. 62, p. 568).
Mary was a direct participant in many of the most important events in Jesus’s life.
You might still reproach yourself for past mistakes, but Jesus receives everyone.
«The souls that turn to Him for refuge, Jesus lifts above the accusing and the strife of tongues» (ibid). I invite you to write an explanation between parentheses that explains what Jesus did in your life, that shows your abilities for good, that shows how He lifts you up.
