April 22
A Heart Filled with Gratitude
John 12:1-8
After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, His fame and notoriety continued to spread through the region. What had once been a localized sensation was now becoming a national phenomenon. Many, seeing the power of God raise Lazarus from the dead, place their faith in Jesus.
Keeping in mind that the gospel of John was written approximately 60 years after the death of Jesus, we can see from the structure of the book that John viewed the events of the last week of Jesus’ life as paramount to the understanding of the life, ministry, and sacrifice of Jesus. The entire second half of his gospel (chapters 12-21) are dedicated to the recounting of the events of what we call Holy Week.
After retreating into the wilderness for a time, Jesus returns to Bethany six days before the celebration of the Passover to spend time with Lazarus and his sisters. To no one’s surprise, the family hosts a meal in Jesus’ honor.
This is an extravagant gift given to Jesus. Imagine pouring out more than a year’s wages in gratitude to a person, a gift worth tens of thousands of dollars. That’s how a heart responds that has been transformed by the healing power of Jesus. It is also significant that this gift was given in public for all to see. Mary could have waited for a more private moment to share with Jesus but instead “filled the whole house” with her offering.
Of course, not everyone will understand, especially those who have not surrendered their hearts to the love of Christ. Judas weighs in…
In response to the gift given to her, Mary gave all she had to celebrate this moment with Jesus. Seizing the moment, in humility Mary laid her heart out before her Savior.
Consider today what miracles God has worked in your life for which your heart is filled with thankfulness. Take a few moments to make a gratitude list and read through this list in prayer, thanking God for each miracle. Ask God to reveal to you ways that you can express your gratitude for other to see in order to bring glory and honor to His name!