Praise the Lord! This message is going to be a terrific lesson! Let’s put on our thinking caps and listen to the Holy Spirit.
To activate our thinking, let’s give some thought to the following questions.
1. Are you a good steward of God’s money?
2. Do you spend your money wisely?
3. Is there a price on life?
4. Can we put monetary value on warship?
Really, how much is Jesus worth to you? Now, many of you have been serving the Lord for a long time, and your immediate response would be my life or everything that I own, but today let’s try to put a monetary value on the life of God. As we dive into scripture, let’s focus on that question and see if we can derive at an answer.
So, let’s turn to Mark chapter 14 and we will be examining scriptures 1 through 9. Chapter 14 is very close to the end of the book of mark, because there’re are only 16. Here, we are in passion week; which is, the last week of Jesus’s life.
Mark 14 (New King James Version)
The Plot to Kill Jesus
“14 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 [a]trickery and put Him to death. 2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”
Mark has one more story that he wants to share with us before he gets into Jesus says crucifixion.
The Sadducees and Pharisees sought to kill Jesus before the Passover. They also knew that Jesus had gained a following and they don’t like it. They wanted to know how they could arrest him and take care of him before Passover?
Rulers did not want to take Jesus, because they were afraid of a riot. Passover to place in the largest city; which was Jerusalem. Jerusalem Would double and triple yes size for the festivities. Passover was a week long celebration of the Israelites coming out of Egypt.
Many of the followers of Jesus believed that the Messiah was going to come and declare war. The Pharisees and Sadducees must have been afraid that Jesus was going to stir up the people during this time of Passover. They knew that Jesus was not happy with the government, and they were afraid.
None of us were there during the Passover events, and there are no videos of the Passover events; so, to get a better understanding of what they were like, I would like for you to picture of West Virginia state fair. Now, if you’ve ever been to a fair you know there are little booths set up everywhere, there’s plenty of things to see and to do, there is plenty of special eats and drinks, plenty 4H and FFA animal exhibits, and there’s lots of camping. For around ten days there is an explosion of people in this confined space. The camping there creates a lot of smells, because some people do not shower, and there are other smells of food, and because of the animals. This is not too much different than Passover! Passover is a religious ceremony, there are no carnival rides, but there is a ton of people who are smelly and a whole lot of animals which also creates a stench. The feasts goes on for seven days.
Now the religious people are still wanting to seek Jesus and they want to do so before this event. Also, they are afraid of a riot or an uprising. They’re smart enough not to take Jesus the Messiah during the Passover.
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 [b]oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.”
Notice, that we are in the house of Simon; which had recovered from leprosy. Now, we don’t know for sure if Jesus healed him, but what we do know is that there would be no party at a leopard’s house. There would be no party, even if they had recovered from leprosy. If you had leprosy, you were ostracized and placed in quarantine. You were considered to be unclean.
Usually in this time, period, men and women were kept separately, and they did separate things. This unnamed woman intruded into the men’s section. It was not uncommon for the woman to serve the man. She then anoints Jesus with this expensive perfume. Scripture tells us that the oil was worth 300 denri, which was, very expensive. Just to put the cost into perspective; the oil would have been worth a persons wages for one year,
Because 300 denri would have been a persons wage for 1 day!
In biblical days, spikenard was as the medication. Today people use spikenard essential oil, because it relieves insomnia and stress, Helps constipation,and helps with inflammation like bloating.
For example, my son was very hyper in his early years, and I would rub this on him, because it had a calming down effect. In addition, My husband, suffers from ulcers, and I would mix spikenard with some other essential oils to calm down his flareups.
Therefore, when poured on the hair it promotes growth and gives a clean and fresh rain aroma
Knowing this, pan question: how did this unknown woman come across, the oil? We can only speculate that she inherited the oil, because most women did not make money in those days. So likely in those days the unknown woman could not have a Ford and yes boil. Since it was a family heirloom yeah probably had sentimental value or the woman.
Faithfulness does not always come where you have expected it. We would expect this in Jerusalem during Passover, but this event is happening in a leopard’s house from a woman. he does something extraordinary, but here comes the reaction from the disciples., That the disciples are still in training, and the ringleader is Judas. Judas controls the treasury, and he has stolen from the treasury; therefore, instead of seeing an act of worship, Judas sees, the Dollar signs.
“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[c] her sharply.”
One side note, that I would like to interject here, is as follows: in Mark, chapter 4, before Jesus fed the 5000 he told his disciples to go get food to feed the multitude. Judas (being the treasurer) would have said that this would be too expensive, because we do not have the money in our budget. They informed Jesus that the food would cost over 200 denri; which would have been 2/3 of a daily wage.
The disciples were scolding her for wasting oil, because they thought the money would be better spent on serving the poor. Oh, if Americans would do just that? How much of the poor could we help? For example, if our billionaires would just donate a fraction of their pocket change to this mission; how many people would benefit? Then they would give a tithe we would see no need for our building. All churches would have what they need if God’s children would follow the directions written in the book.
The disciples thought that the woman was being wasteful; therefore, disciples were also saying that Jesus was not not worth it. So on the flipside, the oil is expensive and he is not worth it. before she was wasteful. So, the Holy Ghost wants us to ask ourselves the following question: how much is too much devotion? How much is too much worship?
So, how much is really too much? Who decides? Why do they decide this? so, is this song by either woman too much, do assessor, we’re not enough. Who decides this? You??? Government?
Sam, the Holy Ghost wants us to consider an example for modern times. I admit, I like to watch a little TV. I like to drive to watch a couple hours a day, and I think that’s a little bit of her. However, there are some who, like to watch Siri or ongoing shows; such as soap operas. What does to much TV? Sitting down and watching 12 episodes of survivor? Watching the same movie over and over again. I would say, watching TV is a waste of time, because we could be doing other things for the Lord. We could be connecting with the sick, we could be connecting with widower’s, and we could be anointing the sick, we could be talking to Jesus, and surely we could be studying and reading the Bible. In Addition, the Bible does not speak highly about idle time.
Thus, Jesus responds to the disciples in verses, six, seven, and eight. Let’s read them now together!
“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.
Jesus, rebukes the disciples for scolding the woman. Pretty much, it is not up to us to determine what is enough or what is too much. Jesus said that the woman had done a good deed. Jesus said this was not a waste full act. He was not concerned about generosity. This is not a lesson on generosity. This is a lesson on worship.
Since day one of Jesus‘s ministry, he taught us about generosity. He has taught us not to forget about the poor, the downtrodden, the sick, and the sinner. He has taught us to love one another. But at this dinner party he teaches the disciples and now us how to truly worship God.
True warship comes from within. True warship is not compared from believer to believer. We are to worship God, with all of our, with all of our talents, with all of our gifts, and with all that we have.
This unnamed woman seems to be the only one in the room that knows who Jesus truly is. She is the most grateful, because she expresses her devotion by anointing Jesus’s his head with expensive spikenard.
On the flipside, the woman’s gift of spite, Renard is only wasteful. Jesus is not worth it.but what if he is? Mark is showing us here that our commitment to Jesus. can only be extravagant or excessive if Jesus is not worth it. it only be wasteful, and it can only be over the top if Jesus is not worth it. for example, if I were to thousands and thousands of photography equipment, and I wasn’t planning on using it. I would not be considered a good steward of God’s money, because it would be too extravagant and considered wasteful spending.
Jesus is who he says he is. He is the only begotten son of God. He is name, Messiah, actually means anointed one. The unnamed lady was anointing the anointed one. Then, she is question on why are you doing this? The answer is: because Jesus is worth it! The woman’s commitment to Jesus, proved that this was not extravagant.
Jesus’s response is that the woman has done what she could. Let’s read verses 8 and 9.
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.”
This is the same response that Mark recorded Jesus, saying, Mark chapter 12 about the widow woman. The widow gave all she had, but the others going into the synagogue, gave out of their abundance. Then, here in Mark 14 we also have a woman who gave all.
, Faithfulness to Jesus is not a comparison game. Bonus is doing all that you can do. Faithfulness is being obedient to God‘s call. Jesus tells us what is expected of us when we follow. We can find us scripture in Mark chapter 11.
Matthew 11:28-30 American Standard Version (ASV)Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Right here, in case you were not familiar with some of this Termanology, a yokewas was made of wood and placed on two or more cows. Now, the cows and horses had to be about equal stature, to make an equal yoke. The goal of this yoke was made to be able to pull heavy loads.
The second kind of yoke had to do with the Old Testament laws. a yoke around a persons neck just like debt, creates a yoke around our met. We become enslaved to it. Jesus is talking about a yoke, because that was pretty popular language, and that time era. Jesus was speaking about his yoke; which you would not have expect a leader to say. Jesus says that his yoke is easy and light yoke is easy and light.
It is easy and light, because Jesus redeemed us, and the Holy Spirit keeps us. his love towards us is not based on what we do, but it is based one who he is. Or, what we do is in response to his love, and not to get something in return. It is also a light, because Jesus only asked us to do what we can do. He never asks us to do more than what we can do. Bonus to Jesus is simply doing what you can do within your means. for example, the greatest commandment that we can do, which is also found in Mark, is to love the neighbor as our self. So the best question we can ask ourselves is the marveling: how can I love someone this week? How can I love someone today?
That is what this woman is doing in this passage, and that is what the widow woman done in the previous chapters.
So, did the woman, waste the spikenard oil? No! Is Jesus worth it? You betcha! Now, the question for today is as follows: is Jesus worth giving your life to?
This lady is giving her life savings; which was her security to Jesus.
Jesus also responded excess us toward us. Mark 14:24 International Version says the following:
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.
Christ gave everything for us. He poured out he is life’s blood. Christ poured all of his life’s blood for you and I.
He did that, even though we rejected him. He did this because he loves us.
We don’t have to do anything, we don’t have to earn it, because it is a free gift, and it has been settled. What we need to know today is that we are not a waste to God! The disciples could have misjudge the situation, but in God we find our worth and value. Is it worth giving your heart and your life to the one who has given us victory over death and eternal life?
We invite you now, except Jesus Christ, and make him Lord and Savior!
Nothing we give to Jesus to greater then what he has already given to us!
So, if there is nothing, we can give to Jesus that is greater than what he has already done. How should we respond? Well, we should ask Jesus to help us respond to is now love. Maybe he will tell you to pray with someone, maybe he will tell you to provide a need for someone, maybe he will ask you to sit with someone who is lonely, maybe he will call you to witness, maybe he will prompt you to post meaningful scriptures on Facebook. I don’t know! But let’s be obedient to the Holy Ghost.
