In memoriam | In memory of her

"When   she   poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly  I  tell  you, wherever  this gospel  is preached  throughout the world, what she has done will  also be told, in memory of her."  —  Mat 26:12-13 (NIV) 

Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash

Reflecting on the beautiful words of affirmation by our Lord in verse 12-13, "By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her." While our Lord Jesus had high praises for this woman who had clearly been led by the Holy Spirit to anoint Jesus with really expensive perfume, costing about 300 denarii (worth about USD54,509 today), the disciples were shocked by the lavish gift of this woman. She was also described as a sinner in Luke's gospel account (Luke 7:37).

As I reflected on my own heart and how much was I willing to lay down and sacrifice to our Lord Jesus, I realise that my attitude wasn't too far off from the disciples. I've been calculative in my giving to the Lord, and the Holy Spirit began to convict my heart that the Lord isn't measuring my giving quantitatively, but qualitatively instead. For example, where are the areas of life that I need to surrender to Jesus' Lordship?

The famed missionary and founder of the China Inland Mission, Hudson Taylor, a man of God well-acquainted with grief and personal losses, including the untimely deaths of his numerous children, has been quoted saying, "Christ is either Lord of all, or is not Lord at all". Also the solemn warning from our Lord Jesus Himself in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven."

I will close my sharing with this beautiful worship song about surrender and living for Jesus:

Lord I Offer My Life

Verse 1 All that I am, all that I have I lay them down before You, oh Lord All my regrets, all my acclaims The joy and the pain, I'm making them Yours   Chorus Lord, I offer my life to You Everything I've been through Use it for Your glory Lord I offer my days to You Lifting my praise to You As a pleasing sacrifice Lord I offer You my life   Verse 2 Things in the past, things yet unseen Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true All of my heart, all of my praise My heart and my hands are lifted to You Chorus Lord, I offer my life to You Everything I've been through Use it for Your glory Lord I offer my days to You Lifting my praise to You As a pleasing sacrifice Lord I offer You my life

Bridge What can we give That you have not given? And what do we have That is not already Yours? All we possess Are these lives we're living That's what we give to You, Lord Chorus Lord, I offer my life to You Everything I've been through Use it for Your glory Lord I offer my days to You Lifting my praise to You As a pleasing sacrifice Lord I offer You my life Chorus Lord, I offer my life to You Everything I've been through Use it for Your glory Lord I offer my days to You Lifting my praise to You As a pleasing sacrifice Lord I offer You my life

YouTube: https://youtu.be/YZHJwWqxXM0

Songwriters: Claire D. Cloninger & Don Moen

Originally Performed & Popularized by Don Moen

Cover by Amanda Gayle Ardanas & Jessell Dawn Mahinay

Reflection on Matthew 26:1-35 by Chris Tan