4月20日

標　　題： 膏耶穌的腳

經　　節： 馬利亞就拿著一斤極貴的真哪噠香膏，抹耶穌的腳，又用自己頭髮去擦，屋裡就滿了膏的香氣。（約翰福音十二章3節）

馬利亞似乎被吸引到耶穌的跟前。在所有耶穌的跟隨者中，馬利亞是那一位去膏抹耶穌腳的人，這並不令人訝異。門徒們似乎也有同樣的機會，可以表達自己的愛，但他們的驕傲阻擋他們向耶穌表達愛意（約翰福音十三：12∼13）。馬大也願意服事，可是她與耶穌的關係卻異于馬利亞的。當馬大為了伺候耶穌，在廚房忙碌時，馬利亞正喜樂地坐在耶穌跟前，聆聽祂的道（路加福音十：38∼42）。因為馬利亞是如此認識及愛上耶穌，她自然能夠謙卑自己，強烈地向耶穌表達愛意。如此深刻與誠摯的愛，只有從與耶穌親密的關係，才能培養出來。

我們向耶穌表達愛意的方式，取決於我們與神的關係。除非花時間與祂在一起、傾聽祂的聲音、體驗祂的愛，我們對祂的愛不可能成長。如果發現自己對耶穌的愛減退，或者心裡有掙扎不想服事祂，這對我們是一個清楚的指針，告訴我們應該要多花時間到耶穌跟前。我們可能十分活躍於基督教的活動，卻忽略了與祂的關係。在花時間與主親密地相交、聆聽祂的聲音、接受祂的大愛之後，我們自然預備好要事奉祂。只要是祂的旨意，即使是付上生命的代價，也在所不辭。

Anointing Jesus’ Feet

Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. (John 12:3)

Mary seemed drawn to the feet of Jesus. It is not surprising that of all those who followed Jesus, Mary was the one to anoint His feet. The disciples would have their opportunity to show the same love, but pride would prevent them (John 13:12–13). Martha, too, was prone toward acts of service, but she had developed a different kind of relationship with Jesus than Mary had. While Martha had labored on Jesus’ behalf in the kitchen, Mary had joyfully sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to Him teach (Luke 10:38–42). Because Mary had come to know and love Jesus in this way, she was ready to humble herself and offer this poignant expression of love to Him. Such depth and sincerity of love comes only through spending time in close fellowship with Jesus.

The way we express our love for Jesus depends on the kind of relationship we have developed with Him. Our love for Him will not grow unless we spend time with Him, listen to His voice, and experience His love for us. If we find that our love for Jesus has waned or that we struggle to serve Him, it is a clear sign that we must take time to sit at His feet. We may have been involved in Christian activity on His behalf and yet neglected our relationship with Him. After we have spent time in intimate fellowship with our Lord, and after we have heard His voice and received His love, we will be prepared to serve Him, even laying down our life for Him if that is what He asks.