Dear Brothers & Sisters,
I was looking back at some old sermons and decided to share a shortened version of what I preached on Mark 14:1-11.
"Mark tells the story this way (v3) And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head.
John’s gospel (John 12:1-8) gives us more information, details like the name of the woman (Mary, Lazarus' sister). But for Mark these details are supplementary to the MAIN THING: the gift given. Mark records that a woman came to anoint the head of Christ. She broke open a jar of alabaster stone, full of an expensive oil or perfume extracted from the root of a rare plant and she poured it all upon the head of Christ. She wasn’t thinking about how much it cost, she was thinking about her Lord. She gave a great gift, because she had a great love for Christ. Nothing was too costly, nothing could be spared for someone as precious as her Master and Redeemer. But some were angry, they despised the gift for they did not share this woman’s love. 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they scolded her. Some of the men present saw her act of love and called it a waste. They claimed the reason for their disdain is concern for the poor, but Jesus responds (v7) “whenever you want you can do good for them.” If that was their only concern, they could get right to that any day they wanted. In truth, their trouble is that they do not value Christ. They snort and scold because in their hearts they thought 300 denarii (a year’s worth of wages) was too great a gift for the Lord. They would be content if a portion was poured out, but they cannot bear the thought of giving all, so they pretend piety when in reality they were unwilling to count Jesus' as more precious than wealth.
Jesus, however, was delighted with her gift.
6 But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.
She gave what she had and she did a good deed in honor of her Lord. The Lord saw her act of love in light of his coming death. She did not lose what she gave to God for He gave her an honor far greater; a name worthy of honor among all peoples.
But there was one there, who would have nothing to do with Christ...
10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.
The disloyalty of Judas is the very opposite of the woman’s devotion. A companion of Christ, he traded his Lord for money. “You can only serve one Master,” Jesus had said (Matthew 6:24), and Judas made his choice.
The difference between those who are devoted to Christ and those who are disloyal is a matter of WHAT they love.
- To those who love Christ no cost is too great. They gladly give themselves to Christ.
- To those who love the world, the cost seems a waste. They would give a little to God and have the rest for themselves, but in seeking to have both worlds, and serve two masters they shall lose it all.
Friend, it is a poor choice to lose your soul for a few moments of pleasure. Think of the glory of Christ, who is God Most High. How can we hold back pouring a single drop of our heart’s affections, when he has poured out his own infinitely precious blood for the salvation of his people? (cf. Mark 14:24)
O brothers and sisters, there is no loss when you hold nothing back from Jesus. There is no such thing as too much devotion to Christ. Others may think it a waste, Family and friends may scoff and grumble that you speak so much of Christ. Your neighbor may think it a waste that you spend so much time at the homeless shelter, “what good will that do,” they laugh. Such people would gladly give two dollars to the children’s hospital and donate some soup cans to the local food drive and feel good about themselves, but they could not fathom someone giving their last penny like the poor widow whom Jesus’ commended in Mark 12:41-44.
Do not heed them! To give oneself (time, money, soul and body) to Christ is not too precious a gift, no cost is too great.
Do you hold back yet? Think how he poured out his soul unto death for you. Will you now hold back something from him?
Friend of Jesus, what will you offer him this week? Will you offer him a little of this and a little of that? Does Jesus get your leftovers only or does he have the first place in all your doings?
When is the last time you spent an hour in prayer or devoted an afternoon to studying the word of God? When did you last pause your busy life to serve someone in need?
Folks this is not about a list of do’s and don’ts. This is a matter of love. Your actions will always spring forth from your affections.
And “we love (the apostle John says) because he first loved us.” Those who love the Lord will not be in love with the world, but will return his love with their whole person and this love will show in the choices and sacrifices they make.
Mary gave up her life savings to honor Jesus. What difference has Christ’s sacrifice made upon your life? What will be known about you when you die? Will it be said “he loved Jesus,” “she was devoted to Christ” or “he betrayed Christ for his bank account,” “she chose her family over Jesus”?
Nothing seems more wasteful to those who love the world than to give all to Christ. But nothing is too costly to those who love the Lord. Nothing is too precious to give to our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Your brother in Christ,
Matt
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