Day 6: Mountain of joy
As she stood behind [Jesus] at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them (Luke 7:38).
Our God, You are a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29)—You are God who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see (1 Timothy 6:16).
In the physical world, we can somewhat conceive of unapproachable light when we contemplate the marvel of the sun. But the sun pales in comparison to its Creator, the One who pitched a tent for the sun in the heavens (Psalm 19:4).
Mere mortals cannot stand before Your holiness (Exodus 33:20, Isaiah 6:5). The priests Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, were consumed when they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to His command (Leviticus 10:1-2). And Uzzah, who reached out and took hold of the ark of God, died because of his irreverent act (2 Samuel 6:6-7).
But You created us for worship, and for relationship (Revelation 4:11), and You stooped to our world and our human capabilities by sending Your Son, Christ Jesus, who, though He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself… assuming human likeness (Philippians 2:5-8 – NRSVUE).
And You, Almighty God—who live in unapproachable light—whose voice on the mountain of fear was so overwhelming that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them—whose presence was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear” (Hebrews 12:19, 21)—You opened for us a new and living way to Yourself (Hebrews 10:20).
The gospel writer John could hardly contain his wonder as he wrote, That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. (1 John 1:1). The God of consuming fire, before whom no mortal could stand—not even priests—incredibly became Immanuel, God with us (Isaiah 7:14).
And You left us a record of a woman, who, having little or no value under the social structures and norms of the times—barred, dismissed, and denigrated by the religious and social establishment—yet experienced the perfect love [that] casts out fear (1 John 4:18). She not only approached, but drew close, and spilled her tears, and used her hair as a towel, and worshipped the Savior with abandon at the mountain of joy.
Lord, how we thank You for our promise, "whoever comes to Me, I will never cast out" (John 6:37 - ESV). Thank You for Your words of grace, "Your sins are forgiven" (Luke 7:48). Thank You for the new covenant, for Your sprinkled blood that brings us to the city of the Living God...to the spirits of the righteous made perfect (Hebrews 12:22-24).
May we worship at Your mountain of joy—with the angels in joyful assembly (Hebrews 12:22)—falling at Your feet with deep gratitude and offering the perfume of our praise.
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