Daily Bread 2011 - Mark 14
Daily Bread 2011 – Tuesday March 1st, 2011 Mark 14
3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages[ and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. 6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
What Does This Mean?
In last passage Jesus re-framed the conversation re: the temple and how in the age to come the temple would be located in human hearts. In this passage, Jesus begins to re-define what true worship is. As Jesus is in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman comes and pours an expensive perfume out, and uses it to anoint Jesus for what was coming.
The disciples completely miss the point, rebuking her for what they think is a waste of resources that could have been used for something else. Jesus corrects the disciples and helps them to see the true nature of her act of worship. Worship, in this case meant this woman’s act of sacrifice, giving an expensive gift to Jesus show how much he meant to her.Jesus is so touched by this gift that he proclaims that this act of worship will be uplifted wherever the gospel is preached!
What Does This Mean For Us?
Jesus is not advocating that we neglect the poor, as in many situations we have seen Jesus showing care for the poor and provide for their inner most needs. What then is He teaching us in this story? I think he might be teaching us to be careful to not get so caught up in the rituals of worship, that we forget the object of our worship. At the heart of worship is our expression of adoration, thanks, and gratitude for what Jesus has done for us.
When we realize the great cost and sacrifice He has given us, our hearts are stirred so that we want to worship and adore him. When we see the great price he paid so that we might be saved, we want to give in a way fitting of His indescribable gift. This woman took a great risk to offer this unabashed act of worship of Jesus. It was expensive to her in terms of how she might be perceived by those in attendance.
Obviously they were offended by her and she probably knew going into this would be the case. But Jesus sees the true heart and spirit of her worship and points to her act of devotion as a model that should shared wherever and whenever the Good News is proclaimed. When is the last time you were able to worship God and Jesus in this way? What might it mean for you to do this? It is not always what we “get out” of worship, but what we bring into it!
Jesus we want to worship you like this woman. Help us to offer ourselves in worship in a way fitting with what you deserve. In Your name we pray, Amen.
3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages[ and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. 6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
What Does This Mean?
In last passage Jesus re-framed the conversation re: the temple and how in the age to come the temple would be located in human hearts. In this passage, Jesus begins to re-define what true worship is. As Jesus is in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman comes and pours an expensive perfume out, and uses it to anoint Jesus for what was coming.
The disciples completely miss the point, rebuking her for what they think is a waste of resources that could have been used for something else. Jesus corrects the disciples and helps them to see the true nature of her act of worship. Worship, in this case meant this woman’s act of sacrifice, giving an expensive gift to Jesus show how much he meant to her.Jesus is so touched by this gift that he proclaims that this act of worship will be uplifted wherever the gospel is preached!
What Does This Mean For Us?
Jesus is not advocating that we neglect the poor, as in many situations we have seen Jesus showing care for the poor and provide for their inner most needs. What then is He teaching us in this story? I think he might be teaching us to be careful to not get so caught up in the rituals of worship, that we forget the object of our worship. At the heart of worship is our expression of adoration, thanks, and gratitude for what Jesus has done for us.
When we realize the great cost and sacrifice He has given us, our hearts are stirred so that we want to worship and adore him. When we see the great price he paid so that we might be saved, we want to give in a way fitting of His indescribable gift. This woman took a great risk to offer this unabashed act of worship of Jesus. It was expensive to her in terms of how she might be perceived by those in attendance.
Obviously they were offended by her and she probably knew going into this would be the case. But Jesus sees the true heart and spirit of her worship and points to her act of devotion as a model that should shared wherever and whenever the Good News is proclaimed. When is the last time you were able to worship God and Jesus in this way? What might it mean for you to do this? It is not always what we “get out” of worship, but what we bring into it!
Jesus we want to worship you like this woman. Help us to offer ourselves in worship in a way fitting with what you deserve. In Your name we pray, Amen.
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