ATTITUDE OF THE ON-LOOKING DISCIPLES

Simon the Leper was a rich ruler. In our modern times let’s say he was a political minister like the likes of Ken Ofori-Atta. Simon the Leper was very rich. His fame spread across the town due to his social status and his wealth.
Then he was struck with leprosy,his social status didn’t matter, wealth didn’t matter. Leprosy was a disease you couldn’t easily get cured from in those days. His name changed from Simon the rich ruler to simon the leper. Infact, from the time he got leprosy till he died,people still referred to him as Simon the leper.
Then Simon threw a party and asked Jesus to be his special guest of honor( simon must have been healed from leprosy after an encounter with Jesus and threw a party to celebrate this). He invited his rich friends, other rulers and people of influence and he invited Jesus too. I’m picturing a modern day presidential banquet that our politicians normally host at the state house. The finest of everything. Flashy cars, glamorous lifestyle, expensive wine,best live band and the whispering and talking behind loud music old folks do at these parties.
Jesus arrived with his ‘boys boys’. Simon received him and his disciples very well. He let his servants attend to Him whilst he went on to continue greeting his other guests he invited.

Whilst Jesus sat at meat with his disciples, Mary came.
Right there she opened a jar of a really really expensive perfume and poured it on my Lord’s head.

I didn’t expect what happened next to happen but the disciples were really angry. Judging by their outburst, the perfume must have really cost a fortune and it was a rare type of perfume.

The attitude of the disciples was really surprising knowing that they were with Jesus 99% of the time. They ought to have known better. He expected them to know better, after all they were the ‘Disciples’. The inner caucus,the dream team, the ones Jesus trusts and loves. And just like them, we do same thing too.

THEY MISS OUT ON OPPORTUNITIES OF PERSONAL REVELATIONS OF WHO CHRIST IS EVEN WHEN THEY ARE IN HIS PRESENCE.

They enter the same, leave the same. They don’t ‘catch Him’ when He shows up. I’ve been countlessly guilty about this.
Personal revelations of who Christ is deepens our relationship with Him. Aside the general revelation of who He is; He is Jesus, He is the son of God etc. Jesus reveals Himself on a very personal level to us anytime He shows up anywhere. The more He pours Himself into us the more we get into new dimensions of Him. We get to see a glimpse of his glory ahead of time at least.
Mary knew this. Infact, she was the only one at that time who knew this.

Even when they read the bible, they still miss out on personal revelations. Maybe by focusing and looking for something mysterious but Jesus wants to just reach out to you on a much more deeper level when you study the word. It could be a simple verse but the way it jumps right into your heart. Wheeew! It becomes really personal to you.

THEY HAVE UNBELIEF IN THEIR HEARTS EVEN WHEN THEY ARE IN HIS PRESENCE.

Jesus had told His disciples so many times that He will be killed and buried but on the third day He will resurrect.
Knowing His disciples i’m sure they will be like ‘ smh yoo we hear wai but let’s focus on other stuff’.
When He told Peter that he would deny Jesus before the third cock crows but Peter said never, Jesus must be making a mistake but he Peter was sure that thing cannot happen.
Same way when God tells us something. At some small corner of our heart we kind of have this unbelief so we panic and forge ahead to have a plan B, plan C just in case God’s plan for us ‘doesn’t happen’.
Poor us! Smh.
When God gives us a word, it gives Him the greatest pleasure when we hold on really tight to His words with all our hearts and strength. We can even be extra when we boast about His words😂😂. Shows how much of a complete trust we have in Him and that makes Him happy to be honest.

SUBSTITUTE CHARITY FOR WORSHIP.

They believe in being religious. To worship in an extraordinary manner? Nope,maybe next time let’s just donate this to these people. God would still be pleased either way.
Jesus is jealous about worship. Like father like son😂😂😂😂😂
I would love to see the look on His face when the disciples didn’t want Mary to worship Him and rather sell the jar of perfume for the money it could bring. So he quickly cut in nicely and said ‘Guys,guys, why are you stopping her? You shouldn’t stop her? (He was enjoying the worship😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂). He said thet would always have the poor with them but they won’t always have Him with them.

The church needs to get back to worshipping. No, wait. Disciples need to get back to worshipping.
To get back to digging deep.
To stop putting systems up which we think is the substitute for worship.
We need to move past that
Break the jar.
Break the box.
And just pour it all on Him.

I struggled to write and post this for a while because it really hit me pretty hard.
I saw myself in those disciples and i’ve been repenting since.
At worship services why be so prim and proper?
Mary didn’t care about being ‘on point’ or modest.
This was a party, a secular party at that and she just broke her alabaster box when she knew Jesus was there.

Aside the jar that broke that day, Mary also became broken.
Broken people worship differently.
No wonder she was the first person Jesus revealed Himself to when He resurrected on the third day.

God bless You!

Sheila Naana Oppong.