as the woman poured oil on the head of Christ, so we will do well to pour some oil on the feet of Christ. Let us do to His members what we would do to Him if He were here, that we may further our communion with Christ.
What do you think about holiness? What do you think about holy people? Is there, in your mind a group of people so close to God, so 'holy' that you'd never actually want to spend time with them? In fact, time seems to stand still when you're with them. They might be handy when needing to know about the finer points of supralapsarianism, but you don't want to get trapped next to them at the church fellowship.
Is this the Biblical view of what holiness does to a person? Removing them from the norms of social interaction? No! As Sibbes points out above, from the conclusion of his sermon on Song of Songs 1:2, and as Paul shows us in 2 Timothy 4:9-12, real holiness, Biblical holiness, issues in a deeper love for friends. Sibbes tells us that the woman who poured perfume on Christ's head is to be our example. In the body of Christ we have the opportunity to serve Jesus by serving His people. That might be taking someone out to lunch after their first visit. It might mean giving someone a lift to church who doesn't like to drive after dark. It will almost certainly mean leaving our comfort zone for the sake of someone else.
What did it mean for Paul near the end of his life? Stuck far away from sunlight and fresh air, knowing the end was coming, almost deserted except for Luke? It meant he wanted to see Timothy, his son in the faith, one last time. Demas has deserted Paul, and he has sent Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia and Tychicus to Ephesus, presumably holding this letter in his hand. Even towards the end Paul was burdened for his churches. But he wants Timothy. Yes he wants books, and parchments and a cloak to keep him warm but he wants Timothy. One more time of prayer together, one more word of mutual encouragement, one more opportunity to help this young man out. One more chance just to be with his best friend, his son, his brother.
Pick up Mark on the way, he tells Timothy, for he is very useful to me. Mark had left Paul, Paul didn't want to take him back, but now ten years later, he wants to see him again. And this won't be a 'drop the books and run,' this will be a sweet fellowship, this is what Paul wants as he ends his life. Other people.
I guess we'll never know if Timothy and Mark made it in time. It's impossible not to be moved by the thought of Timothy setting off from Ephesus, racing to Troas, willing the boat onward across the ocean. Maybe there was a reunion, or maybe Paul had received his reward by the time Tychicus arrived.
Regardless, as Sibbes points out, and as Paul demonstrates, holiness doesn't mean being cloistered away. Holiness issues in close, loving, fellowship. Holiness wants to share, and spread. And of course it does. Who is our triune God but a spreading holiness? Of course, when people are shaped back into his image, they want to be together, they want to share. This is the very nature of God, and it should be ours too, that as we grow in holiness, we grow in love and we grow in fellowship. Our hearts not hidden away and suffocated, but reaching out, as the Father reached out to us.
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