Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

As we continue our journey up redemption road, let’s stop for directions.

Today’s scripture, Mark 14:3-8 (NIV) shares…
[3] While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. [4] Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? [5] It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. [6] “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. [7] The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. [8] She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.

Consider…
When I was a child I remember my mom going to the American Automobile Association (AAA) to get a TripTik. A TripTik was simply a map booklet with the highlighted route to get you to your destination. It was Google Maps on paper. In addition to highlighting the plan, the other thing that today’s scripture did to trigger my memory of the TripTik, was the route planner knew the road obstacles that lied ahead for the trip, to inform my mom what to expect. The planner also emphasized milestones to look for, as confirmation that she was going the right way, along the way.

As I read Mark 14 I saw five TripTik preparation highlights.

• Burial
• Remembrance
• Betrayal
• Crucifixion
• Denial

First, I read today’s scripture, where Jesus was prepared for burial by the woman with the alabaster oil. It was interesting that Jesus said she prepared Him for His burial, not His death. That made me think that the burial , that’s often overlooked, was important.

So I searched scripture and found Romans 6:4 (NIV), which says…
[4] We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

You see Jesus knew that His burial was important because it was the,milestone between the death of sin and new life in Him!

Next, I found the remembrance milestone in Mark 14:12 (NIV), which says…
[12] On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

I noticed the disciples were accustomed to preparing for the Passover, which commemorates when God caused the death angel to Passover the houses where He saw the blood of the innocent sacrificed lamb.

It also occurred to me that Jesus and the disciples were keeping the covenant that God made with His people, which required them to always have this moment of reflection on the Love of God extended while they were in bondage.

That reminds me of Romans 5:8 (NIV)…
[8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Before preparing disciples to remember what He was about to do for them and their descendants, Christ wanted the them to remember what God had already done for their ancestors.

It’s appropriate to remember what Jesus has done for others in anticipation for what He is doing, and will do, for us.

This next milestone, betrayal, reminds me that being around Jesus isn’t the same as knowing Him. Don’t forget Judas was a disciple, and was included in the Last Supper.

Judas’ Last Supper participation reminds me of Psalms 23:5a (NIV)
[5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

But Judas’ story in general reminds me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)…
[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 who is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ [23] Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Notice our ticket to heaven is doing God’s will! That means salvation is neither in our words, nor works, it’s in our obedience!

I believe Jesus used Judas’ road block to prepare us to see the need to know and obey Him personally, versus tangentially. In fact He said in John 15:10 (NIV)…
[10] If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

Obedience keeps us connected to the love of God!

The fourth milestone en route to redemption, is preparation for Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus breaking bread and pouring wine was letting the disciples know that His death was planned and on purpose.

The Apostle Paul shares the details of God’s plan and purpose in Ephesians 1:9-14 (NLT)…
[9] God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. [10] And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. [11] Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. [12] God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. [13] And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. [14] The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

This is a great reminder that everything happens for a reason. Therefore, our challenge is to find the inspiration that makes us praise and glorify God because of what He’s allowed us to experience.

Lastly, we land on the final milestone, denial, for today’s trek of our journey along redemption road.

There’s nothing good or positive to say about denying Jesus. In fact He said in Matthew 10:33 (NLT)…
[33] But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.

But, I don’t think the denial is what Jesus wants us to fixate on in Peter’s story. The Holy Spirit took me to Luke 22:31-34 (NIV), where Jesus said…
[31] “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. [32] But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” [33] But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” [34] Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Notice, Jesus told Peter He was interceding for Him before checking him on a promise of faithfulness that he couldn’t and wouldn’t keep.

The Holy Spirit then reminded me that the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:34 (NIV)…
[34] Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Jesus was preparing us, through His exchange with Peter, to know that He understands our willing spirit but weak flesh that will take us of course. And He is interceding for us with the Father for mercy, until we return.

Hopefully today’s post encourages you to see that God is preparing you for what He has planned for you.

Today’s song is…
He’s Preparing Me

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)