She did what and when she could

Mark 14:1-11

Mark 1:1-11, After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. 2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”

The Anointing at Bethany 3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.

6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly,

I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus 10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.

Women play especially important roles in the Gospel of Mark. Not only are they mentioned frequently, but the highest acclaim of Jesus in the Second Gospel goes to women. 15 of the 22 mentions of women, however, appear in unusually positive contexts.

The value and dignity of women and girls are signified by the fact that Jesus heals them (1:30–31; 5:25–34; 5:23, 41–42; 7:25). In their following and serving of Jesus and the Christian fellowship women are models of discipleship (1:30–31; 15:40, 47; 16:1).

On two occasions women appear in the heart of the sandwich technique as the ideal of faith (5:21–43) and devotion (14:1–11).

The woman with a haemorrhage is a model of faith for Jairus, the synagogue president (5:25–34). The Syrophoenician women is a model of faith for all “outsiders” (7:25ff.). The widow in the temple is praised for giving more than everyone else, “her whole life” (12:42).

Above all, the anointing at Bethany is so exemplary that the proclamation of the gospel in the world is a commemoration of her act (14:9). These women are known for some different qualities. To Adore Jesus with all your heart, for all your life.

Who or what do you really love?

How much is Jesus’ worth to you? You praise what you prize. If you don’t prize Jesus, you won’t praise him. Mark 14 The Passion Week. This is not the same of in John 12 where Mary anoints the feet of Jesus wipes with her hair.

Luke 7 a sinful woman anoints Jesus. Matthew 26 and Mark 14 mentions the same. Mark uses this story like a sandwich or burger.

Mark 14:1-2 top layer

Mark 14:10-11 bottom layer

Mark 14:3-9 is the meat Devoted disciple and Deceiving Disciple. Story of the famous judge traveling not knowing where he was going. Where are the disciples going today? Where is the church heading today? V 1-2, After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. 2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”

The Passover occurred on the first day of the week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. God’s people gave Him praise for freeing them from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 12).

This day included the slaughter of the Passover Lamb, whose blood on the doorpost 1,400 years earlier spared the home from the wrath of God. Anywhere around 300K pilgrims would be in Jerusalem at this time. Pilgrims slept in tents in the surrounding country.

Passover. A conspiracy to kill him. The cross is coming. The Lamb of God will soon be slain. Jesus’ death will transform the meaning of the Passover.

• These leaders hate Jesus.
• They are jealous of him.
• They are threatened by him.
• They are enraged by his teaching and actions in the temple.
• They call him a blasphemer.
• They want him dead.

They are also cowardly and conniving. They don’t want to go after him publicly. They will opt to get him in the dead of night in the secluded Gethsemane. They feared the crowds. They remember the Triumphal entry which took place wen Jesus arrived at Jerusalem in Mark 11:1-11.

They are sitting in the high place and planning for Jesus’ murder.

Burger patty

V 3, And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. In the next scene, we find Jesus’ dining in the home of Simon the Leper.

The event is taking place in Bethany. Bethany, a village about two miles from Jerusalem on the eastern side of the Mount of Olives, has been Jesus’ base camp since arriving in Jerusalem. Simon was no longer a leper! He may have been healed by Jesus.

Those invited to the party are those who are pro-Jesus, or at least they appear that way. They are in Pro-Jesus crowd, but they still need help in knowing what it means to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

Mark doesn’t give us names (except for Simon) because he wants our attention to be focused on this unnamed lady. She pours out this costly perfume: nard. This was not a body Spray or perfume we get in in store. It was derived from a plant native to India. So hard to get.

She breaks the flask and pours the whole thing out on Jesus. Not just sprayed or little was poured. It was broken.

Value of the perfume? V 5, For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. The Cost of Nard 300 denarii, we may call about 40K They don’t have a problem with doing something nice for Jesus, but she has done something Extravagant!

Over-the-top! They are very pragmatic and calculated. The disciples think this is wasteful.

V 4, But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? They were “indignant” They rebuked her harshly.

Why the criticism?

The Needs of the Poor? V 5, For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. Old Testament commended us to look after the poor.

Deuteronomy 15:11, Was Jesus concerned about the poor?

Mark 10:17-22 Rich Young Ruler.

Mark 10:21, Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” V 6-7, But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.

Were they really concerned? Jesus told them about following Him wholeheartedly.

Mark 1:17-20, Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. Discipleship requires wholehearted devotion to Jesus.

The worship that Jesus desires is not a casual, dispassionate worship that’s done in moderation.

Are you all in? She was! V 8, She did what she could when she could—she pre-anointed my body for burial. (MSG) Mark Gospel is very easy to divide for us. Very systematically written.

Mark1:1- 8:26 Ministry in Galilee.

Mark 8:27-10:45 Ministry on the way to Galilee to Jerusalem.

Mark 10:46- 16:20 Jerusalem. Before Jesus spoke about death and burial here in V 8, He did mention this ³ times in this gospel.

Mark 8:31

Mark 9:31

Mark 10:32 Peter the Macho man.

Mark 8:31-33, And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

They did not get in second time they were busy arguing who is the greatest.

Mark 9:31-37, For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise

the third day.” 32 But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him. 33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

Third time money comes into play.

Mark 10:32-43, Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: 33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and [e]scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” Greatness Is Serving

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”

38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”

41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. Do you just want to go to church a few times per month, and be decent and reasonable person, but not a passionate follower of Jesus? Her heart was deeply moved!

The disciples should have followed her instead of criticizing her! Do not live to please people or to please the Saviour? The time to adore Jesus was limited.

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” C.T. Stud The King receives his anointing, not with oil, but with an ointment for a burial. He is a King going to the cross.

Whereas this unnamed woman got it and did it! V 9, Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” The world has no problem with religion in moderation.

But if you walk away from a “real career” to follow Jesus that’s deemed “foolish.” Cultural Christianity doesn’t honour Christ.

Why was this act beautiful? Jesus’ disciples are missing in action after the crucifixion; his body is taken away quickly and there’s no mention of anointing the corpse. This will be his only anointing. Jesus assures the disciples her act will be remembered.

Everywhere where his story is told, this act will be told. The fact that I am preaching it today demonstrates the truth of this statement!

Deceitful Disciple Judas betrayed Jesus out of his own initiative. V 10-11, Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.

What droves Judas? Greed God’s plan?

Satan’s work? Yes!

Was Judas responsible? Yes. Judas had seen Jesus, He had heard sermons, He had been given the privilege of privileges! Yet, he sells him out! Terrible trade. Here is a women gave up all her money to honour Jesus! Judas betrayed Jesus for money!

Conclusion

What do we learn about whole-hearted devotion to Jesus?

How much Jesus is worth to you? He deserves all we have. Actions flow from affections. Wholehearted worship is beautiful not wasteful.

Amy Wilson Carmichael story

1867- 1951 Irish Women went to India. People thought she would not last for 6 months. Rescued thousands of children who were given into forced prostitution as devadasi. 1901 Dohnavur Fellowship. She had written 35 books.

1930 she was named in the honours list of King George V. When she came to know she asked them to remove her name. She never wanted any focus on her! She served 55 years in the hot Tirunelveli. Never to return even one time to UK!

No turning back to her mother land rather she stayed with her Father!!

What a service she had rendered to her Saviour!