Headship

There is an account in scripture in Mark 14:1-10, that takes place just before Jesus is taken for crucifixion. Jesus has been ministering publicly for about three years at this point, with a widespread reputation for  miracles, teaching, even raising the dead. It is the time of the Passover Feast. This feast is one of the most solemn and awesome of the feasts. This feast commemorates the great, yet, terrible night when the LORD God miraculously protected the Israelites from the destruction of the Angel of Death that was dispatched to bring death to all of the first born of Egypt. This was the last plague loosed upon Egypt in order to break the bondage of God's people. Lamb's blood was painted on the doorposts and lintels of the homes of the Israelites, so when the Angel of Death came, he would pass over those homes, and not bring the judgment of death to that household. The Israelites left Egypt that very night.
In the account in Mark 14, however, the hearts and minds of the religious leaders of the time were not upon the coming Passover and all of its preparations. Instead, their thoughts were of taking Jesus, and putting Him to death by any means necessary-even if it meant using deceit and trickery (Mk. 14:1). Though they were making their plans, they felt those plans should be held until after Passover, so there would not be an uproar among the people. This was the mind of the religious elite.
Also in this passage, there is a man named Simon. He is described as a leper. Leprosy was a disease that caused the sufferer to be quarantined from society. The person was considered to be unclean, and the disease was incurable by natural means. The priests had been appointed by God to cleanse the disease, but evidently, at this time, there were those who had not been cleansed from it. Luke 7:36 also tells us that the man, Simon, was also a Pharisee, who were taught to believe in miracles, and even resurrection from the dead. This man invited Jesus to his house for supper. Jesus accepted the invitation. There were probably not many who would eat with a leper. Simon had an opportunity for healing and deliverance in his home that day. But something happened that caused Simon to miss His opportunity with Jesus. During the meal, a woman of sinful reputation came into Simon's house and began to humbly minister to Jesus using a costly anointing oil. Jesus accepted her ministry. This was a problem for Simon. He knew the woman's past and decided that Jesus could not possibly be sent from God, if He did not know who this woman was, and allowed her to touch Him. A man who had desperate need, and was an untouchable himself, decided Jesus was not the person Simon thought He should be. However, Jesus points out to Simon, that Simon's rejection had come long before the woman entered his house. Jesus points out that Simon had not treated Jesus with even the common politeness one would show a guest: greeting with a kiss, and providing the washing of the feet. He pointed out to Simon that this woman labeled a sinner, had washed His feet with her tears, and dried them with her hair. She then anointed His feet with the costly oil. She knew who her Master was, and Simon had not accepted Jesus as Master, or Lord.
This passage also describes others at the table, and their thoughts. Luke 7 tells us that they questioned how Jesus had the authority to forgive this woman's sins. Mark 14 tells us that this group resented the fact that such costly oil was used by this woman on Jesus's feet. They called it "a waste" in Mt. 26:8 version of this event. Why didn't she sell the oil and give the money to the poor? That would be the righteous thing to do, in their opinion. The Mt. 26 account tells us that the ones with these thoughts were Jesus's own disciples. One of the disciples, Judas, even decided at this point that he would inquire how he could turn Jesus over to the religious authorities. He was looking for a reason to do so, and this event gave him the justification he wanted.
The headship, or Lordship of Jesus was just as difficult for His disciples to accept, as it was for Simon the Leper, or the religious authorities of the time. Isn't this surprising? They were eye witnesses to all that Jesus had done, but were still offended by His headship or authority over them.
I think that is very much the case today, as well. Even we, His disciples, sometimes look for the opportunity, the justification, to reject His headship in order to keep our own. We look for the opportunity to reject the headship of the appointed shepherds over our lives for the same reasons. God has said in scripture that this rejection is not really against our spiritual fathers and shepherds, but against Him. Jesus said those who rejected Him, were really rejecting His Father, Who sent Him.
This is one of the great challenges that we who think of ourselves as disciples face in our spiritual walk. Who do we say Jesus is, and do our actions support this truth that we believe? Do we really accept the headship of Jesus, and of the Father, or will circumstances reveal what we really think regarding this?
Will others, more humble than ourselves, expose by their worshipful love for Jesus, the feelings that are really in our hearts and minds? When their example is held up to us, will we have feelings of shame and regret for our own hardened hearts, and prideful spirits? It's tough to face and deal with, but we should never stop looking at this, examining our own hearts.

Our Father is Headship.

"Lord, I Need You"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS9e0nxHP-w