Overflowing hearts
Then she (the queen of Sheba) gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon (1 Kings 10:10).
When the wise men came to Jesus and presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, their hearts were overflowing with joy. When Mary anointed Jesus with a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, her heart overflowed in worship. When Nicodemus came with myrrh and aloes, and Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome came with spices, their hearts overflowed with sorrow. When the Lord appeared in resurrection, their sorrows were removed, and their hearts overflowed with joy and worship. The disciples of the Lord were moved to respond to the Saviour’s suffering death upon the cross and then entered into the joy of knowing that the Saviour had conquered death to enter into His glory.
None of the disciples came empty-handed. What they brought was an expression of how much the Lord meant to them. Their gifts were precious, costly, carefully chosen and freely given from worshipping hearts. They were also given with reverence and humility. The wise men fell down to worship the Lord when He was born. Mary worshipped at the feet of Jesus as His death approached. It is only in the hearts of the Lord’s people that the Lord receives gratitude and praise and His love is recognised.
The worship came silently from hearts overwhelmed by grace. And the Lord filled their hearts with His love, peace, joy and hope. The Lord never ceases to value the worship that comes from those for whom He gave Himself. We learn much from the simple response of those who witnessed and responded to the death of Christ. It was an experience that broke their hearts. John later wrote of the apostles: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life.” But it was not the apostles who handled the Lord in death; it was two secret disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus. And it was not the apostles who were there at the tomb of the Lord very early in the morning while it was still dark; it was Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. Those who are forgiven much love much.
It is the memory of the depth of Christ’s love for us and the power and majesty of His glorious life which bows our hearts in profound worship and stimulates our devotion to Him and service for Him. When we come to remember Him, we bring of our personal experience and appreciation of His Person and His grace, mercy and love. These experiences distil worship in our hearts. Sometimes we are overcome, as the Queen of Sheba was when she saw the glory of Solomon and “there was no more spirit in her” (1 Kings 10:5). But the Queen of Sheba also responded from an overflowing heart: “There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.” In eternity we shall fully express the worthiness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. That song begins in our hearts now.
