What is damage control in our world today and when did this be the end all to all problems?  Damage control are measures taken to offset or minimize damage to reputation, credibility, or public image caused by a controversial act, remark, or revelation.  In other words, we must do something to offset the damage done when truth revealed our true motivations publicly.  The term damage control was first coined in 1943 but the act has been around since the fall of Adam and Eve!  Making our sin look more acceptable to God and others by putting dressy clothes on it, lying about it, then blaming others for it didn’t work then and it doesn’t work with God now.  Why do we keep trying until we fix our sin problem by hiding or ignoring it?

Damage control in a relationship refers to the proactive measures taken to address and repair any issues or conflicts that may arise between partners. It involves open and honest communication, active listening, empathy, and a willingness to understand and resolve problems together.  But until the truth of our actions is brought out in the open, understood, and/or behaviors corrected; Love cannot be trusted.

What is the use of damage control?  Large companies employ entire departments assigned to do damage control. They are responsible for taking action to “put out fires” caused by the boss or other employees’ unseemly, disreputable deeds with highly public actions of good to offset the bad image.  Damage control makes every effort, as by a company, to curtail losses, counteract unfavorable publicity, etc. by taking our attention off what is bad and unresolved.  When a company goes into damage control mode, it is not as much about fixing the problem as it is about trying to save face and avoid getting a bad name.  Damage control is about fixing the IMAGE of the company, rather than the actual issues itself.

Here’s a thought: If a ship is filling up with water, and you bail out the water, that’s damage control. If you fix the leak, that’s fixing the problem.  Mm.

The company of high priests’ answer to damage control: 

Kill Lazarus who Jesus rose from death to life. 

Kill the actions of God to bring us salvation.

Kill Jesus. 

Damage control does not fix our sin problem—Only Jesus can save us from our sins.

John 12, The Message

Anointing His Feet

^1-3 Six days before Passover, Jesus entered Bethany where Lazarus, so recently raised from the dead, was living. Lazarus and his sisters invited Jesus to dinner at their home. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those sitting at the table with them. Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus’ feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house.

^4-6 Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said, “Why wasn’t this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces.” He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them.

^7-8 Jesus said, “Let her alone. She’s anticipating and honoring the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you. You don’t always have me.”

^9-11 Word got outamong the Jews that he was back in town. The people came to take a look, not only at Jesus but also at Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead. So the high priests plotted to kill Lazarus because so many of the Jews were going over and believing in Jesus on account of him.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Again, damage control does not fix our sin problem—Only Jesus can save us from our sin problem.  We must refrain from covering it up, dressing it up, blaming others for it or lying that it exists as our response to it.  It is sin.  Sin stands between God and us until we repent of our sin to Jesus—the One who knew no sin but became sin for us. 

Sin must be removed so that nothing stands in the way of our intimate, growing, loving relationship with God—and with others!  Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life who removes our repented sins as far as the east is from the west!

Love God.  Love Others.  Jesus says all other commandments hang on these two directives to love God back then love each other with all that is in us!  God’s love in us makes loving others pure and holy!

Mary understood Jesus as Son of God, Messiah come, the one to be honored, respected, and loved with all her heart, mind, and soul.  Jesus who knew the hearts of men and women not only recognize her but commended her for it!  How full of gratitude Mary was to Jesus for bringing her beloved brother back to life!  She had to express her love in her way for His honor and glory!

Judas was driven by greed.  He plotting against Jesus while embezzling the funds of the disciples.  His response was damage control to protect his sins.

The religious company of high priests were driven by self-image.  Their response was to kill everyone who threatened their self-appointed power over an already oppressed people.  Kill Jesus.  Kill everyone and every thought about the One, the Messiah, who came to save them.

Mary’s actions driven by love and gratitude, were of “anticipating and honoring” Jesus.  Did she know what was going to happen next?  No, but that didn’t stop her from being of the mind to anticipate and honor Jesus for who He was and promised to be to all who believe.

What is our response? 

I choose Mary’s response.  I choose Jesus.  There are more than a thousand reasons to love, trust, honor, and walk in Truth who is Jesus the One who died for my sins and set me free to love like He loves me.  I am so grateful for all God has done, is doing, and will do in my life all because of what Jesus did to save me.

Lord,

Thank you for loving us so much you laid down your life in payment for our sin problem, reconciling us once and for all to God.  It is finished.  It’s complete. Thank you for daily cleansing my heart, renewing my mind, refreshing my soul with your new mercies, and restoring the joy and peace of your consistent salvation at work within me.  I live in anticipation of what you will do next in and for us.  I live in anticipation of your return to take us home forever with you. Thank you, thank you, thank you! To you be all the glory, honor, and praise!

In Jesus Name, Amen