What did Jesus enjoy doing? That may seem like a strange question, but it’s worth considering.
We don’t usually think of Jesus seeking or experiencing enjoyment. For most of His life, He would forgo any pursuit of His own pleasure to fulfill the will of God at great cost. (Ultimately, that really was our Savior’s chief delight.) But the thought of Jesus enjoying Himself may be somewhat foreign to us.
What did Jesus love to do? It’s a valid question. And finding the answer may help us to find greater fulfillment. We may also discover how to be a greater source of enjoyment to Jesus.
“I Have Earnestly Desired…”
Luke 22:14–15 (NASB):
When the hour had come, He [Jesus] reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” I had never before caught that insight: this was Jesus’ desire. He really wanted to be there with His disciples. He had been looking forward to His time with them with great anticipation, and He found joy in it.
A similar thought hit me later as I was reading a passage describing a visit Jesus made to Jerusalem. Following that visit, Matthew 21:17 says, “And He [Jesus] left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.” We see this regular pattern in the life of Jesus. He went to Bethany either before or after spending time in Jerusalem. Here is my conclusion: Jesus loved going to Bethany.
In Jerusalem, Jesus was continually hounded and rejected by the ranking religious leaders of His day. They conspired against Him and opposed Him at every turn. They made every effort to catch Him in their traps, to bring ridicule to His ministry and finally to accomplish their main goal, which took place in Jerusalem: to put Him to death. In Luke 13:34 (NASB), Jesus lamented over that city: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!” What a contrast Jerusalem was, however, to what Jesus experienced in Bethany!
In Bethany, Jesus was welcomed with open arms by Mary, Martha and Lazarus—people who were like family to Him. They accepted Him as He was, welcomed Him into their home, lavished love upon Him, honored Him, allowed Him to be Himself, and drew deeply upon His wisdom and teaching. In fact, we know from the Word that all Mary seemed to desire was to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear what He had to say. And let’s not forget that it was in Bethany where Mary expressed her great love for Jesus by a profound act of lavish sacrifice: “Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair” (John 12:3, NKJV).
Sitting at the Feet of Jesus
The outcome of the time Mary spent at Jesus’ feet is described later, in John 12:3–7. While all the other disciples were seated at table eating, “Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume” (verse 3, NIV). This was an act of worship, expressing itself in the fragrance that filled the house. The other disciples criticized Mary for her extravagance but Jesus gave her His approval, saying, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.” Apparently Mary was the only disciple who understood at that time that Jesus had to die. Had she learned this secret while sitting at His feet?
It was an accepted Jewish practice to anoint a body that was being prepared for burial. In anticipation of Jesus’ death, Mary anointed His body with the most expensive ointment she owned. She alone had this privilege. Later, other women came to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus (see Mark 16:1). But they were too late! He had already risen from the grave. Oh, that God’s people today would take time to sit at the feet of Jesus! Surely we would then be more extravagant in our worship. Perhaps we would also be open to the special kind of revelation that comes no other way.
Finding and Providing a “Bethany”
Two thoughts come to mind. The first is that each of us desperately needs a “Bethany” in our lives. We need a place like Jesus found where we can experience the same kind of love and acceptance lavished upon Him by His loved ones and family. In fact, probably the best “Bethany” of all is in the presence of the Lord Himself, where we, like Mary, can experience His acceptance, input and tenderness toward us. The second thought along the lines of what Derek shared is that we should provide a “Bethany” to the Lord Jesus. He still seeks that place where He is welcomed with open arms, received unconditionally, and obeyed as He shares His wisdom and inspiration. How can we create that kind of place for Him in our lives?
Why not take a moment now and just open your heart to Jesus? Why not draw near to Him with the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to come into Your presence right now. Just as You sought relief from the cauldron of Jerusalem and found peace and acceptance in Bethany among those who loved You, I come to You now. Lord, I have been torn up by the opposition I have encountered in my own personal “Jerusalem.” I need a “Bethany.” I need to hear You welcome me with Your words of love and acceptance. I come to You now and sit at Your feet as Mary did. And Lord, it’s more than just coming to You in my need. I also want my life to be a place like Bethany for You. I want You to feel welcomed, received and cherished in every part of my life. Lord, I open my arms to You now. Please come and spend time with me. You are welcome in this place and in my life. I want to be a “Bethany” to You.
If you prayed those words, you can be confident that the Lord has heard your cry for a closer relationship, and He has answered you. In addition, you can be confident He has accepted your invitation to come to the “Bethany” you want to provide for Him. Just as Jesus earnestly wanted to be with His disciples and longed for the moments when He could slip away to Bethany, He desires to be with you. We know this from His promises in Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
Your Life: A “Bethany” for Jesus
Finding and providing a “Bethany.” What a vital step to take, especially in these days of such a hectic pace, fighting off so many distractions. As you seek to draw closer to the Lord, just learn to "be" and remain in His presence. Just as Mary's alabaster vial had to be broken in order to release the precious and expensive ointment the same is with our own very lives. We will lack the life-changing power because we have not emptied ourselves out before God and therefore e condemn ourselves to a religion of convenience. We become antiseptic and correct, but we are not fragrant. It is those that are broken and contrite in God's sight that is so dear to Him. It was exemplified in His own body upon the cross, and that is what He is waiting on us to become, that we may exude the very fragrance of Christ. Major in Mary, minor in Martha. God first intended us to be His human "be-ings" not His human "do-ings". Go to your Bethany and have an encounter with Him, just resting and being in His all consuming Presence. He is waiting, I'd encourage you to do it today - taken some from Derek Prince and my added musings.
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