4月20日
标 题： 膏耶稣的脚
经 节： 马利亚就拿着一斤极贵的真哪哒香膏，抹耶稣的脚，又用自己头发去擦，屋里就满了膏的香气。（约翰福音十二章3节）
马利亚似乎被吸引到耶稣的跟前。在所有耶稣的跟随者中，马利亚是那一位去膏抹耶稣脚的人，这并不令人讶异。门徒们似乎也有同样的机会，可以表达自己的爱，但他们的骄傲阻挡他们向耶稣表达爱意（约翰福音十三：12～13）。马大也愿意服事，可是她与耶稣的关系却异于马利亚的。当马大为了伺候耶稣，在厨房忙碌时，马利亚正喜乐地坐在耶稣跟前，聆听祂的道（路加福音十：38～42）。因为马利亚是如此认识及爱上耶稣，她自然能够谦卑自己，强烈地向耶稣表达爱意。如此深刻与诚挚的爱，只有从与耶稣亲密的关系，才能培养出来。
我们向耶稣表达爱意的方式，取决于我们与神的关系。除非花时间与祂在一起、倾听祂的声音、体验祂的爱，我们对祂的爱不可能成长。如果发现自己对耶稣的爱减退，或者心里有挣扎不想服事祂，这对我们是一个清楚的指针，告诉我们应该要多花时间到耶稣跟前。我们可能十分活跃于基督教的活动，却忽略了与祂的关系。在花时间与主亲密地相交、聆听祂的声音、接受祂的大爱之后，我们自然预备好要事奉祂。只要是祂的旨意，即使是付上生命的代价，也在所不辞。
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.
