Fear God Not Man
Today’s reading shows us a glimpse into the thoughts and fears of the important characters surrounding Jesus in his last days. First, we read of the chief priests. They hated Jesus. We know that this had to happen because Jesus came to the world to become the sacrifice for our sins. How could he have been the sacrifice if no one plotted to kill him? Regardless, it is the condition of the hearts of these men who plotted Jesus’ murder that speaks to us. Specifically, we see whom they fear. Verse two reveals they plan not to arrest Jesus during the festival so there is not an uproar among the people. Think about what they confess with those words. They admit they are planning on using trickery and deceit. They will create an unlawful trial with actors giving false testimony to convict an innocent man; yet, they fear not the wrath of God. Not once do they contemplate the sinfulness of their actions. Not once do they compare it against the Law which they claim to place so much importance on. Their concern is not for the God who will condemn their souls but for the crowd who might argue against their actions. They fear losing their popularity rather than their salvation. Could there be a sadder commentary on the life of a person?
In stark contrast, we have the woman who poured her expensive perfume on Jesus. She stood in confident reverence and love for her Savior. She refused to be intimidated by the people who condemned her actions and accused her of being wasteful. She cared more about what her God and Savior thought about her than the men and women who looked down their noses at her actions. Her heart held the right balance of love, faith, and action. She did not allow fear of man to keep her quiet. She did not place importance on her popularity or how people would perceive her actions. She valued the spiritual worth of her life more than the worldly approval of it.
We have the choice to be either a chief priest or the nameless woman who anointed her Lord with her most valuable possession. We have this choice every day. Do we care what the people around us think? What if our praise and worship of our God cost us everything? I think of David. So great was his love for his God that it moved him to dance openly before a large group of people. He had no shame if what he did brought God glory. It cost him the love of his wife. She, like the people in the room with the woman and her alabaster jar, looked down her nose at his actions. David did not care. She rebuked him; David praised his God all the louder. May we have that kind of courage. May we never stop to worry about what other people’s opinions of us are. May we fear God more than men; and follow Him even when it feels like the whole world is against us.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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