A Gift for Jesus – John’s Gospel chapter 20 verses 1 to 18
Let’s imagine – pretend you can see back through time and see the friends of Jesus, who loved and followed him. It’s Saturday night and they are so unhappy and sad because Jesus, the best Man who ever lived, had been killed by bad men the day before. They had cried and cried and cried till they had no more tears. “He’s Gone!“
“What gift can I give to Jesus?” It’s very early Sunday morning, and Mary, one of His friends, is going to the place where Jesus was buried, a cave-grave with a huge stone rolled across it. Mary is bringing the best gift she has, sweet-smelling perfume and clean cloths to wrap His poor dead body in. It is her gift of love. But when she gets there the huge stone has rolled away. and the cave is empty! She is so surprised and shocked that she runs all the way back to the town to Jesus’ other friends. “They have taken the Lord Jesus out of the cave, and we don’t know where they have put Him!”
Two of the friends run to the cave, see it really is empty, and then go back home. Then Mary comes back, crying her eyes out, and looks in the cave. There are two shining angels sitting there. “Why are you crying?” they ask, and she tells them “They have taken my Lord Jesus, and I don’t know where they have put Him!”
Then she turns around and sees a man, who gently says “Woman, why are you crying?” Her eyes are thick with tears and she does not know who it is. Thinking He is the gardener, she says “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where He is and I will take Him away.” The Man says “Mary”, and immediately she sees it is Jesus, alive again! “Teacher!” she cries out, and falls at His feet for joy. “Don’t cling to my feet Mary, for I have a job for you – go to my friends and tell them i will see them soon.”
Her gift of perfume for Jesus never got used, but her gift of love is still being told 2000 years later! There is an even better gift. A gift from Jesus, Himself, Who died to take away our sins, and lives to be with us forever. One day, if we love and follow him, we will see Him, just as Mary did.
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
from the Christmas Carol, “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Christina Rosetti, 1872)
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
Here is a printable copy