Matthew 26
A Fool for Jesus!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church. Today is Thursday, April 16
I hate it when people judge my decisions or actions as foolish, but the opinions of others—which can so easily control me—can’t be the measurement by which I determine my actions.
Matthew chapter 26, verses 6-10, tells the story of a woman who scandalously pours out her alabaster flask of very expensive ointment onto Jesus. Matthew tells us that everyone in the room, except the One, is upset by her “wasteful” display of worship. They all thought of her as the fool, except the One whose opinion actually mattered!
Jesus rebuked His disciples and praised this woman in verse 10, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me.”
This perfume oil was worth over 300 denarii, which is nearly one year’s income. Likely, this was Mary’s wedding dowry, she was trusting her future hopes of identity and security to Jesus alone—she was holding nothing back from Jesus.
Mary’s faith led her to look foolish, but knowing the end of the story, who was more foolish: Mary or Judas Iscariot, her loudest critic? Let’s be careful about calling people fools until we know the whole story! And let’s seek the opinion of the One who matters for our behavior and actions. Sometimes our loudest critics are the people we need to pray for the most…
Seize the moment and live for an audience of One. There is freedom and peace to be found in worshipping Jesus with all that you have. Hold nothing back from Him today…
Are you willing to be called a fool for Jesus?