Wisdom For Women

Thankful Women

Key Verse Psalm 100: 4(Last part)-“..Be thankful to Him and bless His Name”

Thankful Woman

I. Mary Magdalene- She Thanked God For The Shift
I would like to draw your attention to Mary Magdalene, who was a sinner. This woman received cleansing and pardon from Jesus. She was spiritually blessed. So, she came to thank Jesus for what she had received. Jesus is worthy of our thanksgiving because He is an embodiment of love. Divine love demands all from us. He gave His life’s blood on the cross of Calvary for our sins. Oh! What a shift from her sinful life to a sinless lift. What a wonderful change from the secular realm into the spiritual realm. What a shift from the company of sinners into the band of believers. It is a shift from the natural into the supernatural- a shift from the worldly friends to the truest friend- a shift from the sinful, wretched life to the righteous- a shift from the worthless life to the worthwhile life- a shift from the useless life to the useful life- a shift from the rotten life to the fragrant life- a shift from the fruitless life to the fruitful life- a shift from the empty life to the abundant life- a shift from the thankless life to the thankful life- a shift from the worldly passion to the divine love- a shift from the shameful life to the glorious life- a shift from the terrestrial to the celestial- a shift from the earthly to the heavenly- a shift from a sinner to a saint.

Illustration
We see one wall text in all the Christian Book shops. The text reads like this, “I asked Jesus, “How much do you love me.” He said, “This much and He died.” In the background we can see the picture of the cross of Calvary. In the world there are thousands of gods and goddesses that people worship but you cannot find the true love in them. In India, we have 30 thousand gods and goddesses. For everything there is a god – one for education – for money – for fire – for rain – to pass an exam. So many gods are there but not a single god can be claimed as a personal god. Some gods have the spear in its hands. But if you see Jesus, you can see the nail scare in His hands which are the marks of love. We can see the wounds of love in His hands, legs and side. By showing His wounds to us, He says, “I love you so much.” Out of love for this sinful woman, Jesus healed her soul and pardoned her sin. In Verse 38, we can see as to what she did at the feet of Jesus. Let us briefly meditate on the 4 attitudes of Gratitude.

1. Attitude of realising (Through tears)

2. Attitude of dedicating (Through hair)

3. Attitude of loving (Through Kiss)

4. Attitude of surrendering (Through riches)

Luke 7:38 “And stood at his feet behind [him] weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe [them] with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed [them] with the ointment.”

1.Attitude Of Realising
She began to wash His feet with tears. In the Tamil Bible, it says that she drenched Jesus feet with tears. But in English Bible, it says that she washed His feet. For drenching, we don’t need much water. But for washing we need much water. She did not drench His feet but washed His feet with tears. Tears poured out of her heart. She poured out her tears. Who was she? She was s sinful woman in the city. She spent her whole life in sin. Now Jesus has forgiven her. Therefore her heart was now filled with thanksgiving. Bible says out of the abundance of heart, the mouth speaketh. But if the heart is filled with thanksgiving, only tears will come.Some people stand to testify about the goodness of the Lord in the church. They will praise the Lord for His benevolence. They will start to explain but they cannot speak. Only tears will come. Why? What is the reason? Not able to express. Heart is full of thanksgiving. Such people are not able to testify with the words of their mouth but they testify with the tears of their eyes. How many of you have this experience? When I think of the grace and mercies of the Lord, I weep in God’s presence. When our hearts are filled with gratitude, then thanksgiving flows out. What came out of her eyes? Tears. Tears came through her eyes but thanksgiving came out of her heart. Her heart was broken out of the love for Jesus. So, he thanked the Lord with tears. Sometimes we cry only for our problems, difficulties and sorrows. But from now onwards, thank the Lord with tears for forgiveness of sins. Our hearts should be broken. The Holy Spirit is asking you a question. Has Jesus forgiven all your sins? Mary’s eyes were used for expressing her brokenness to Jesus. Let us learn to shed tears at the feet of Jesus not before anyone.

2. Attitude Of Dedicating
She wiped the tears with the hairs of her head. She could have used a towel. But she used her hair. We read about the hair in 1 corin 11: 15 “But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her: for [her] hair is given her for a covering.” When Bible says that she wiped His feet with her hair, what does the Holy Spirit mean by that? She gave all her glory. She dedicated her glory at the feet of Jesus. The feet of Jesus is the only place where we can surrender our glory, honour, merit, achievements and victories.

3. Atitude Of Loving
According to Luke 7: 38, She kissed his feet. It is an expression of love and affection. In order to reveal her heart’s love, she kissed His feet. Firstly, she poured out her tears, then she dedicated her glory. Now she was manifesting her love to Jesus. She did not cease to kiss His feet. That was the Jewish custom. In verse 45, ‘ Thou gavest me no kiss’. The host must welcome the guest with a kiss for the feast. She was showering her hearts love for Jesus. How long has it been since you poured out your love at the feet of Jesus? In the night time pour out your love upon Him. This woman expressed her love in a personal way to Jesus. We worship as a church. But that’s not enough. When you are alone, shows your love upon Him.

4. Attitude Of Giving
Mary anointed His feet with the ointment. Now she is drawn towards Jesus because He has delivered her from sin. Today there are many saved people. But they forget to do express their thanksgiving to Jesus. That is why Paul says, ‘I am willing to spend and be spent for Jesus’. Now she brings that costly ointment. She broke the alabaster box and poured it at the feet of Jesus. It’s only for Jesus. She poured out her riches at the feet of Jesus. People who saw her would have called her mad. Mary poured forth the ointment.

II. Anna- She Thanked God For The Gift

Luke 2:38 “And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” Anna was a prophetess who lived during the birth of Jesus Christ. She was of a great age of 85 years old. She departed not out of the temple. At this age, she served God with fasting and prayers day and night. In Luke 2:27, the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law. Simeon came by the Spirit into the temple. He thanked God by taking Jesus up in His arms and prophesied about the child Jesus. It was at that instant that Anna gave thanks likewise unto the Lord. Both of them thanked the Lord for one reason because Jesus is a gift from God, the Father to this mankind. Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” Though baby Jesus was wrapped up in and swaddling clothes, He is the perfect gift to us. Hebrew 6:4 refer to Jesus as the ‘Heavenly gift.’

Let us read an important verse found in Romans 5:18 (last part) “……. Even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto Justification of life.” In the Tamil Bible it is written as ‘judgment.’ But the English Bible refers to it as the free gift.’ The birth of Jesus Christ into this sinful world for the salvation of souls is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God”. Are you thanking God for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ? Here, we see Anna had the opportunity to see child Jesus and thanked the Lord. Having seen the gift, baby Jesus, Anna could not stay silent but spoke of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem according to Luke 2:38 (last part). Similarly, we read about Simeon who spoke of him or prophesied about child Jesus to his parents. That is the reason why we read in Luke 2:33 -“And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.”

Anna received Jesus as the free gift of God. She wanted to present Jesus to others as a free gift to all who looked for redemption. The Bible says, ‘Freely have ye received and freely give.’ Having acknowledged the fact that God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ as a gift, what are we doing with that gift? It is not enough if we just thank the Lord for God’s unspeakable gift. Speak about the gift to others. Share this gift with others. Present this gift to all those who need Him. Jesus Christ, the gift of God is a multi-faceted precious treasure. This gift, called Jesus is an embodiment of grace, pinnacle of power, bundle of joy, monument of love and fountain of all blessings. Anna gave thanks likewise unto the Lord. Her prayers were coupled with praises. How arresting is the phrase, “she coming in that instant.” This was no mere coincidence. It was not a mere chance. Through her long pilgrimage, day after day, she went to the Temple to pray for the coming Messiah and although He seemed to tarry she waited for Him, believing that He would come. Then one day the miracle happened, for as she entered the Temple she heard sounds of exultation and joy proceeding from the inner court, and then form the lips of the venerable Simeon. She heard the words, “Now, Lord, lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.” They were gazing upon the Holy Child who was none other than her long-awaited Messiah. Anna, too was ready to depart in peace. Your salvation is not by accident. It was already in the plan and purpose of God.

Note again, the glimpse we have of Anna in her brief record. We see her, first of all, as a Daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher – A widow of a great age - A Devout Worshipper of the Living God - A prophetess proclaiming the prophetic word. Now she assumes another role. She goes forth to become a missionary. She spoke of Him to all. Anna not only prayed and praised, but went out to proclaim the glad tidings to those who had shared her hope and faith. Anna was one of the Godly remnants in Israel who, through centuries even in the darkest before Christ could come, looked for the Dayspring from on high. Thus, as she heard Simeon’s praise for prophecy fulfilled, she went out to her godly inmates to declare the glad tidings. Faith, through her long years of waiting, was rewarded and she became the first female herald of the Incarnation to all who looked for the Redeemer in Jerusalem. In Anna, we have a sample of an aged female’s waiting faith which was rewarded. Anna thanked the Lord for enabling her to see the gift called Jesus Christ in the temple. Whenever we come into His sanctuary, we can visualize and taste of the goodness of Jesus Christ. Oh! How privileged we are to acquire this priceless pearl and possess the darling of Heaven to be our own. So many people around us are hungry and thirsty for God’s word and living waters. Having come to the thanksgiving meeting, can you thank the Lord like Anna for the gift? Jesus Christ is the greatest gift of all!!!

III. Mary: She Thanked God For The Lift

Luke 1:48, “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” Luke 1:49 “For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy [is] his name.” Here we see the words of thanksgiving though the word ‘thanks’ is not used. Mary, the mother of Jesus thanked the Almighty God for the great things done to her. She praised God saying “Holy is His Name.” what are the great things God has done unto Mary? See LUKE 1:48 He hath respected the lowly state of me, the hand – maid of the Lord. She further says that from now on all generations shall call me blessed. Mary humbled herself before the angel who said she shall bring forth a Son. Luke 1:38 “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” “Behold, the hand maid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to thy word.” Here we see the exaltation of Mary from being a hand – maid to become a blessed woman. She was so privileged to bear Jesus in her womb. She was just an ordinary village girl. According to the sacred record, Mary was a humble village woman, who lived in a small town, a place so insignificant as to make Nathanael to say, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?”When you talk about her former state, she was an ordinary vessel. But she became a chosen vessel of God.

SUPER – EMINENCE
After the centuries, the statement still stands, “Blessed art thou among women” (Luke 1:28).When the angel said, “Highly favored of the Lord” and having “found favor with him” (Luke 1:28, 30) surely uplifted her to a higher pedestal. Mary belongs to those grand, majestic women inspired with the spirit of prophecy, who is capable of influencing those who shape the dusting of the whole world.

Mary’s Exaltation

1. Her Selection
Among all the godly Jewish maidens of that time in Palestine why did God select such a humble peasant young woman as Mary? Her choice by God to be the mother of the Incarnate Son is as mysterious as her conception of Him within her virgin womb. When the fullness of time had come for Jesus to be manifested He did not go to a city, but to a remote and unknown town not to a palace but a poor dwelling – not to the great and learned but to lowly peasants – for a woman to bring the Saviour into a lost world. The gentle and lowly Mary of Nazareth was the Father’s choice as the mother of His beloved Son and that she herself was overwhelmed at God’s condescending grace in choosing her is evident from her song of praise in which magnified and thanked Him for regarding her lowly estate and in exalting her.

Mary was then selected by divine wisdom from among the humblest and it was in such an environment that the father prepared His son to labour among the common people who heard Him gladly. The one of whom he was born, the place where he was born were arranged beforehand by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. According to prophecy, Mary became the mother of the Saviour of mankind (Isaiah 7:14-16, 9:6,7 Micah 5:2,3) Born of a peasant maiden, and having a foster- father who earned a frugal living as a carpenter, Jesus was best able to sympathize with man as man, and be regarded by all men. When Gabriel announced to the virgin whose name was Mary that she was to bring forth a son to be called Jesus, he recognized her spiritual fitness for such an honour, when he said, “The Lord is with thee” (Luke 1:28)

2. Her Salutation
Taking the Lord at His word, Mary praised Him as if what He had declared had been fully accomplished. As given by (Luke 1:46-55) this lyric expresses Mary’s inward and deeply personal sacred and unselfish joy and likewise her faith in Messianic fulfillment. Her worship was for her Son, for her spirit rejoiced in Him as her own Saviour. She spoke of her humility, for she was mindful of the fact that she was but a humble village maiden whose “low estate” the Lord regarded.