March 26, 2018: What Can I Do?

Mark 14:8-9 (NIV)

It was one week before her Lord would be crucified.  She had been listening at his feet for months and she heard him talk about his death.  The disciples never got it but she did.  While the disciples were arguing about who was going to be the greatest in the coming kingdom she sat at his feet and listened and took in every word.  As she sat at his feet the Holy Spirit gave her insight the others did not get.  She understood he was going to Jerusalem to die.

How could she minister to him in this extremely difficult season?  What could she do that would demonstrate her love for Him?  She had heard him talk about a new kingdom where he would be king.  What could she give to her King that might help others know who he really was?  It did not take her long to get the answer.  She had a pint of pure nard, the kind of ointment that was reserved for special guests.  This ointment was reserved for royalty or wealthy people.

Jesus was reclining at the table after dinner and she knew what she had to do.  She ran quickly to get the jar of precious ointment and she poured it out over his head and the ointment ran down over his beard and onto his robe and some of it made its way down to his feet.  It was not long until the fragrance of the perfume filled the entire house. She had done it.  She had broken her entire jar of nard and poured it out on him.

The others in the house were indignant.  This radical act of love convicted them. They had been arguing over who was going to be the greatest and she had busied herself so that her love for her king was the only thing that filled the room.  She did not care what position she would have in the kingdom she only cared that her love for her king was made known.  It was a costly act.  She had “wasted” a year’s wages on this one act of devotion.  The others began to criticize her for such waste.

When the words of criticism were heard by Jesus he put a stop to it. “Leave her alone!”  With these words, there was a silence in the house.  All eyes were turned toward Mary and Jesus.  “What she has done has been done to prepare my body for burial.”

Wait just a minute, Jesus, what is this talk about dying, no way that is going to happen.  No one else got it that evening, but Mary did.  and listen to what Jesus said about her, “Wherever the gospel of the kingdom is preached her story of this one act of devotion will be told as a memorial to her.”

Note the phrase, “She did what she could.” What is it that you can do today that will display your devotion to your king?  What do you have to give to King Jesus that will serve as a memorial of your love for Him?

Why not start this week of remembrance of what Jesus has done for you with some act of love that will serve as a reminder of his love for you?

Let it be said of us, “They did what they could”

May your love for Christ be on display for all to see this week




Pastor Phil


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