Mary was a sister to Martha and Lazarus, living in the town of Bethany, about 3 km or 2 miles from Jerusalem and was situated on the road to Jericho. They were a family of substance (averagely rich) and were well known in the town and the bible states that Jesus loved the Lazarus and his sisters.
Jesus in the book of Matthew 26:13 said:
“Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her”.
After reading this verse I became eager to know what kind of woman would cause Jesus to say such words in front of a group of people and disciples.
Mary’s life was that of a worshipper, all the scriptures where she is mentioned show forth the kind of life Mary had. The first mention of Mary and Martha, her sister was when Jesus was at their house Martha was serving food whilst “her sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word”. Luke 10:39 Mary sat at the feet of Jesus to listen and hear what God spoke.
As a worshipper, one of the greatest qualities one must hold is the ability to sit at his feet and learn from him. The Holy Spirit has been given so that we learn all the truth from him. What are you learning from God? It’s also about being able to hear from the spirit world, worship is an adventure ride in his spirit and if we cannot listen to the spirit then we cannot follow him to the throne room. Mary’s heart brought her to the feet of Jesus to learn.
When Lazarus died, Jesus showed up four days later and when it was told to the sisters that Jesus has come, Martha ran to Jesus and spoke with him by the roadside. Mary knew that Jesus had arrived but when Martha told Mary that Jesus was calling her the bible says she rose up quickly and ran. She knew Jesus had come but waited until called.
How many of us know the time and the place that God directs us to, how many of us can wait for him?
Martha ran and spoke to Jesus; Mary waited on God and Jesus did not leave the place he was and waited for the sister
“When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.””. John 11:32
She fell at his feet, crying to Jesus and said the same words that her Martha said and Jesus was moved. He cried and asked to see the tomb of Lazarus.
Martha did none wrong, Martha said nothing wrong it was Mary’s worship that moved heaven to action and Lazarus to be awakened from death. Yes, Jesus came on a mission to raise Lazarus but it was the reverence of Mary that brought heaven to action. She waited to be called and when summoned she worshipped and heaven obliged.
“Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth”. John 9:31
Jesus comes again to the town of Bethany and whilst eating in the house of Simon the Leper and “there came unto him a woman (Mary) having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat”. Matthew 26:7
Mary poured 300 Denarius worth of ointment upon the head of Jesus. For me, this was just an ultimate gift because it prepared Jesus for his crucifixion.
“She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying” Mark 14:8
It was only the moment that Mary offered the sacrifice that Judas was hurt that that’s when he went straight to betray Jesus.
“And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them” Mark 14:10.
Mary’s offering provoked Judas to start negotiations with the chief priests to betray his master. When you worship, do you know what your worship provoke or release?
For me, I say that Mary’s extravagance started at the feet of Jesus and when she caught the message of the kingdom of God, she just knew what to do and she was always in the right time and offering the things that moved both heaven and hell into action. It’s her attitude and lifestyle of worship that caused her life to be remarkable.
God has called us as worshippers to lead nations into his presence and when we learn to spend time alone with him especially in secret. Learn how to worship him all right, be aware of times, seasons and movement of the spirit of God. Learn to have such a heart like Mary in our worship today just think what God can do in our lives, families and churches.
I pray that our offering may cause the devil to be squint, foam and create a platform for God to be glorified in our lives all the time. That we may have a revelation of the power which is released when we worship God and value the time we spend with God in worship. We may bring worship that moves heaven and hell into action.
What can we do to become like a Mary for a generation of Lazarus’ out there?
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