"It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph...went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body." Mark 15:42-43. The Jews made preparations the day before the Sabbath, so when it arrived, they could rest. They didn't comprehend that this Preparation and Sabbath would precede Jesus' resurrection. This leads to an important question. How are we preparing for Resurrection Sunday?
Some are expecting guests for lunch. This calls for a certain amount of preparation. Women in the Bible understood having dinner guests. "Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.' But the Lord answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.'" Martha was preparing her house; Mary was preparing her heart.
Martha wanted to spread a table for Jesus, but Mary wanted to feast at the table Jesus had spread. She was partaking of the Bread of Life.
Second Corinthians 5:1 refers to another kind of house...our human bodies. These houses are home to our spirits, and, boy, do we ever like to make them shine on Easter! It can take a great deal of preparation to deck them out in the latest spring fashions.
There's nothing wrong with preparation, unless we're doing the majority of it in the wrong place. Our goal should be to rise with Jesus, above the cares of this life. This can't happen if we are more consumed with preparing our houses than our hearts.
The bible tells us that "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. Exodus 34:29. Spending time preparing our hearts, in the Lord's presence, will give us a glow that can't be obtained any other way for Resurrection Sunday.
Jesus' words to Martha were, "Mary has chosen the good part..." This Easter, may we follow in her footsteps, and choose to prepare our hearts more than our houses that the following may be said of us: "Arise, shine...the glory of the Lord rises upon you." Isaiah 60:1.
Some are expecting guests for lunch. This calls for a certain amount of preparation. Women in the Bible understood having dinner guests. "Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.' But the Lord answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.'" Martha was preparing her house; Mary was preparing her heart.
Martha wanted to spread a table for Jesus, but Mary wanted to feast at the table Jesus had spread. She was partaking of the Bread of Life.
Second Corinthians 5:1 refers to another kind of house...our human bodies. These houses are home to our spirits, and, boy, do we ever like to make them shine on Easter! It can take a great deal of preparation to deck them out in the latest spring fashions.
There's nothing wrong with preparation, unless we're doing the majority of it in the wrong place. Our goal should be to rise with Jesus, above the cares of this life. This can't happen if we are more consumed with preparing our houses than our hearts.
The bible tells us that "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. Exodus 34:29. Spending time preparing our hearts, in the Lord's presence, will give us a glow that can't be obtained any other way for Resurrection Sunday.
Jesus' words to Martha were, "Mary has chosen the good part..." This Easter, may we follow in her footsteps, and choose to prepare our hearts more than our houses that the following may be said of us: "Arise, shine...the glory of the Lord rises upon you." Isaiah 60:1.
