My Highest Part for His Lowest Point
Scripture Reading: Mark 16:1–18
“And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun,” Mark 16:1–2.
My Highest Part for His Lowest Point
Holy Father, give us the grace to serve you with humility. Father, we pray that you give us revelation in your Word, that we love you for you; not for the gifts we will get from you.
Give us the grace to defend your name even at our own expense; the grace to be committed to you in Jesus’ name.
In Mark 16, we find examples of those who show humble service and commitment to the Lord. Early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and Mary arrived at the sepulchre with anointing spices and saw that the stone had been rolled away. “And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him as he said unto you,” Mark 16:5–7. They left quickly and told no one for they trembled in amazement and fear. “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that she has been with him, as they mourned and wept,” Mark 16:9–10. But they did not believe her, neither did they believe it when Jesus appeared to them in another form, Mark 16:11–13. “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which hath seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all of the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover,” Mark 16:14–18.
Jesus says, “these signs shall follow them that believe.” Do you believe in Jesus or do you just believe in His conveniences, blessings, and gifts? These women believed in Him and were faithful to Him even after His death.
The resurrection story is also told in the book of John, where Mary Magdalene recognized Jesus’ voice and said “Rabboni, which is to say Master,” John 20:16. Mary, the one who anointed Him with that costly oil; the one who came when He had been dead for three days. Anointing a great man or wiping His feet with your hair when He is alive is different from taking oil to anoint Him after He has died. The women went to anoint Him because they loved Him for Him.
It is when you love Him for Him that you can minister to Him with your highest attribute at His lowest point. Mary used her hair to wipe His feet, His lowest point; and she went looking for Him in the grave at His lowest point. She went to the sepulchre not to see if He would wake up as He had said.
There are people who follow ministers to see if what they have said will happen; they are curious. That was not her motive and He gave her the priviledge of being the first to hear His voice after the resurrection; of telling His disciples that He was risen. He gave her the assignment when he said, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her,” John 20:17– 18.
Many of us want to see and hear from the Lord, but the way to see and hear from the Lord is to serve the Lord with your highest abilities at His greatest point of need for you. Mary anointed His feet when He was alive; so, at the grave it was natural for her to anoint Him after all He went through at Calvary. His body was in no state for anyone to want to see but because she loved Him for Him; she was able to go to that sepulchre. As others went back to their business, she stayed until she saw an angel, she stayed until Jesus Himself appeared to her; until Jesus gave her a message for the disciples.
The pathway to greatness in the Lord is first to love Him for Him and second to serve Him with your highest at all times. Then, He will come and speak to you; He will reveal Himself to you. Mary was able to confirm to the apostles that Jesus was risen. I pray that you will affirm to your generation that Jesus is alive and well.
Prayer Points:
If you have never given your life to Jesus, pray with me; take this first step toward being committed to Him, believing that He is able to save you. Pray now, “Lord Jesus I surrender my life to you; write my name in the book of life, and give me the grace to serve you with my utmost at the point of your need for your Kingdom assigned to me, in Jesus’ name.” Amen.
