Mary Magdalene . . . brought spices to go and anoint the body of Jesus.
Mark 16:1
She finally arose from the mat that was supposed to be her bed, but there was no sleep for her this night. She could not stop thinking about Him.
The way He loved people.
How He healed those who were hurting.
She remembered Lazarus, and how happy she was that He raised her brother from the dead. She remembered how He cast seven demons out of her, and yet in His presence, she never felt ashamed.
Suddenly, images of the horrific beatings and the sounds of taunts and screams came rushing in over the pleasant memories. She wept in anger and sorrow as she remembered wanting to yell to the Roman soldiers beating Him, “What has He ever done to you?!” But He was silent. At first she thought maybe He was afraid, but He was never afraid. She realized He was courageous. She didn’t understand it, but somehow in all the mad hysteria going on that day, it was almost like He was in control of it all.
What to do now, she wondered as she lay on her mat with the night almost gone. She remembered the alabaster box that she broke to wash His feet. She still had that box somewhere. That’s what I’ll do, she thought. She arose and began to prepare the spices to anoint Him one more time. When He was alive, she anointed His feet. Now in His death, she would anoint His body. She gathered her things, put out the small fire, and went to meet the others.
Jesus rarely does what you think He will do, and that was the same for Mary. She did not expect Him to die like this. But she knew He was just as worthy of worship when He did the amazing as when He was mysterious.
The only real response any of us have to the presence of Jesus is to worship or not. Mary beautifully anointed His feet when His forgiveness had overwhelmed her. Now she would anoint His body when His actions bewildered her. She went to minister to Him even when she did not understand. Will you?
There are probably situations in your life where the resurrected Jesus is not doing what you thought He was going to do, or at least not in the way you had imagined. Will you still set aside time and worship? Even when He appears to be silent, will you refuse to be silent? When prayers aren’t yet answered, and there are plenty of sleepless nights, will you worship? Like a parent who climbs out of bed at two in the morning to tend to their child, we discover what is of worth to us when we adjust our lives, even when we do not feel like it. Jesus is worthy of worship even when we don’t feel like worshiping. Something happens when lean in and worship regardless of the circumstances of our lives.
I encourage you to find a place of solitude, and begin to thank Him and praise Him. Even if you do not feel it, put language on your love for Him. Something happens in all of us when we worship against the tide, when we worship beyond our understanding, when we call Him good in the face of an unpleasant reality. Prepare the anointing oil of your heart, and go to the garden alone. He is waiting.