Partially told.

Your word is stunning, active and alive.  It is a treasure of ‘living’ that seems to have no end.  Thousands of glimpses into the lives of those living just everyday moments, reveal truths and hint at wonders that amaze me.

Today You capture me with stories that aren’t fully told.

I wonder regarding the story of Jesus’ father, Joseph.  What was the transition like for Jesus when His father passed away.  Did He know He could raise him from the dead with a word?  Likely.  Yet, He chose to walk the painful road of mourning and obedience to Your bigger, more perfect, plan.  Truly, He was a servant to His Father’s will.  It’s a story not told, but I marvel at the thought of who Jesus was in the midst of it.

Two more stories, not fully told, capture and inspire me.  They reveal a heart of a servant and the beauty of obedience.  I wonder…

How did she know?

She left her house with a flask of fragrant oil.  She was clearly on a mission and must have been deeply compelled to complete it.  She interrupted the moment, broke usual custom, and was unhindered by sharp criticism.*  She was anointing Jesus head with oil, against all sense of normalcy, but with a quietly intense conviction.

Her actions are recorded, but her story is untold.  An angel?  A vision?  A voice?  Or simply a deep, unexplained urge in her spirit that she knew she could trust?

I marvel at her bold, but gentle, obedience and want to know the rest of the story.  I marvel at what is not told, knowing it would reveal something about the beautiful combination of Your powerful presence and a servants yielded heart.  Even without all the details, the story is striking.  

Where is the guest room?

“Furnished and prepared.”*  Who was the master of the house that had made prior arrangements for Jesus’ last supper with His disciples?  Clearly unscheduled, this appointment was nonetheless not unexpected.  

How did it occur that a large room was ready to receive the wonders that would happen there that night?  Was it wisdom?  Inspiration?  Is a furnished and prepared room for an unscheduled event foolish?  Did his servants balk at what appeared to be unnecessary labors?

What is not recorded, is still clearly evident.  A holy inspiration manifested into a place to receive the Savior.  Unannounced, but not unexpected.  Faithful, obedient, ready.

Ready.

Whatever the whole story is, the key players both bear the same mark – ready.  Inspired, they were ready to respond.  Against cultural norms and conventional wisdom, they simply moved into action at Your will.  Just like Jesus, they permitted Your will to prevail.

Even a fraction of their stories inspire me.  And what seems only partially told, reveals that the unrecorded ‘how’ must not be the relevant truth.  I walk away with an awe of the readiness of Your servants.  Ready.  Inspired.  Obedient.

Awesome.

* Clicking on *’s will open a new web page providing the indicated reference.