131. A Woman’s Love – Mark 14:3
Mark Devotional #131 – When in Jerusalem, Jesus didn’t stay in the city itself. He usually stayed in the house of His friend Lazarus, in the town of Bethany, just outside Jerusalem. There He enjoyed peace and companionship. He knows his time at the Cross is drawing near, and at this time, Jesus receives a very special dinner invitation.
“And being in Bethany in the house of Simon, the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.” – Mark 14:3 (KJV)
In the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Luke, the dinner host isn’t called “Simon the Leper” but “the Pharisee.” They were almost certainly the same person.
A leper wasn’t allowed to have any contact with other community members, so Simon must have been a Pharisee who Jesus had healed. When he heard that Jesus was in Bethany, Simon felt obliged to invite Him to dinner.
Luke also tells us that the woman who gate-crashed the dinner was a notorious sinner in the town of Bethany. He also mentions that Jesus had forgiven her many sins.
She brought all she had to Jesus. The value of the perfume was equivalent to more than a year’s wages. The alabaster jar was also precious. But she didn’t care. She broke it to pour the perfume on Christ’s head.
What’s the lesson here? It’s that this woman valued nothing that she owned above the privilege of knowing Jesus. She brought everything she had to Him. That’s what happens when you realise how great the love of Jesus is for you and how complete His forgiveness and acceptance for you is.
What is the most valuable thing in your life? Would you be willing to give it to Jesus? Think about why or why not. And if you were, what conditions would you put on your gift?
132. Wasted Money – Mark 14:4–5
Mark Devotional #132 – Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. Mark 14:4–5
133. Leave Her Alone – Mark 14:6–8
Mark Devotional #133 – “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Mark 14:6–8
134. Wherever the Gospel is Preached – Mark 14:9
Mark Devotional #134 – Jesus has just defended the woman who has poured perfume over his head, from those who criticised and condemned her. But Jesus doesn’t finish there. He continues to praise what she has done with some of the strongest words of affirmation that he ever spoke. “Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
135. Judas Plots His Betrayal – Mark 14:10–11
Mark Devotional #135 – We all know the story of Jesus, and we know that his time of ministry doesn’t have an easy ending. And now the time has come. One of Christ’s own provides the trigger for the final events in the ministry of Christ. “Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over” – Mark 14:10–11
136. Where is My Guest Room? – Mark 14:12–16
Mark Devotional #136 – Every Jew at Passover was expected to eat the Passover meal with his family, and if no family was present, with his friends. And, if you were in Jerusalem, you were expected to eat it there, in the holy city. Jesus was in Jerusalem, but he had no family there, and no home in which to eat the Passover meal. Jesus solves this problem in a very interesting way.
137. One of You Will Betray Me – Mark 14:17–19
Mark Devotional #137 – During the Passover meal with his disciples, Jesus makes an extraordinary announcement. For the disciples, to be openly in Jerusalem with Jesus meant that the fulfillment of all their dreams was at hand. Soon Jesus would announce himself as the promised Messiah-King, defeat his enemies, and then, when Jesus finally sat on the throne of David, they would all have their reward. But the announcement that Jesus makes suddenly and dramatically changes the mood in the room.
138. Better If He Had Not Been Born – Mark 14:20–21
Mark Devotional #138 – Jesus has just announced that one of the disciples there with him will betray him. One by one, they all denied that it could possibly be them. But in the face of a million denials, the Word of Jesus remains true and will always be fulfilled. So, Jesus repeats what he has told them.
139. This is My Body – Mark 14:22
Mark Devotional #139 – The uniqueness of this Passover meal continues. It is in fact, along with the first one, the most important Passover Meal in all of history. Because now, step by step, Jesus begins to reinterpret the meaning of the Passover for his disciples. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” When he had taken the bread, the first thing he did was to give thanks, as was the Jewish custom before meals. This meal starts with joyful gratitude to God for the gift that is about to be received.
140. This is My Blood – Mark 14:23–24
Mark Devotional #140 – Jesus now takes the cup of wine and, as he did with the bread, he gives it new meaning for his followers. Step by step, he is teaching them what he is about to do, which is the basis of their salvation. Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. – Mark 14:23–24
