Looking For Jesus

Looking for Jesus

Three women, Mary Magdalene, Mary who is James’ mother and Salome, are looking for Jesus. Why are they looking for Him? They are seeking Him in order to anoint His dead body. They need what is absolutely necessary and essential to serve Jesus, in His present state. They have bought the appropriate gifts, fit for serving the dead body of their Lord and Master. They are bearing, gifts of spices to anoint Jesus. When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Mark 16: 1. 

Who are these women? They are followers of Jesus, disciples of His, women who had been serving Him and His Twelve. Here is interesting and noteworthy information, given by Luke about these and other women. Luke gives us detailed information about Jesus’ travelling companions, as He went about from town to town and village to village, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. Luke 8: 1b – 3. These are women, in whose lives Jesus has made a life-altering difference and they are now living in life-long gratitude to Him. They have committed their lives to serve Jesus and His Twelve. They are doing their service out of their own pockets, suggesting that they were women of some means.   

Jesus has travelled to Jerusalem and they have followed Him there also to serve Him. Can you imagine their emotional, spiritual, physical and mental states, to say the least? They have travelled to Jerusalem with Him to celebrate the Feast of the Passover, not to see their beloved Lord and Master crucified. Never, in their wildest dreams, had they ever seen or imagined themselves purchasing gifts, spices, to anoint a now buried Jesus. I really don’t know the exact spices they purchased, but I do know that these gifts of spices had to be purchased. In other words, these were not ordinary things people kept with them, which would be at quick reach. These women, as we have been told, had to purchase these gifts, necessary and appropriate for anointing the dead Body of Jesus.

I use the words necessary and appropriate because, think of it, these women are not anointing any old person, they are not just anointing a dead body, a service which I am sure some, if not all of them have participated in previously. This is no ordinary dead! This is their Jesus, their beloved Lord and Master. Surely, their gifts of spices would have to befit one of such high esteem to them. What then were those spices like? We have not been informed, but we do have an example which brings curious enlightenment.

John, in his recording of the events of the burial of Jesus, speaks of a secret disciple of Jesus, known as Joseph of Arimathea who was given permission by Pilate, to bury the Body of Jesus. John further tells us that Joseph was not alone in this service. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. John 19: 39. This mixture was used on the Body of Jesus. I don’t know whether the women used myrrh, but I believe they would use what was appropriate for a person of highest standing.

When we hear the words myrrh and aloes, if you are as I am, then your mind lights on the word, myrrh, as you think of the gifts the Wise Men brought to Jesus. Straightaway also, my mind goes to a verse of the hymn, ‘We Three Kings Of Orient Are’ which says this.

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume

Breathes a life of gathering gloom;

Sorr’wing, sighing, bleeding, dying,

Sealed in a stone cold tomb. 

The author describes the gift of myrrh as bitter perfume, yet it makes a perfect gift for the Lamb of God, God’s Suffering Servant. What of aloes? When the Psalmist speaks of the One whom God has set above His companions by anointing Him with the oil of joy, this is what was recorded. All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. Psalm 45: 8a. Somehow, I’m very keen on the mixture here. Aren’t you?

But we must return to the Magi.

Tomorrow we return.