Wednesday, May 3, 2006

Mark - She anointed His feet

She anointed His feet

Mark 14:3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

John 12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
John 12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Mark 14:4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
Mark 14:5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

One of those who complained was Judas Iscariot. John adds a little more to the story.

John 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
John 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
John 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

Mark 14:6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.

Leave her alone, she has blessed me. Why do others pick at another's giving? Why do many complain about giving to the church? Because they want the money for their own desires. There is no greater joy then giving to Jesus.

Mark 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

Yes, Jesus was there with them. This was the time to give to him. Later he would be gone, and we can then give to the poor as unto him.

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Mark 14:8 Shehath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

Jesus sees this as his burial anointing, a great sacrifice of love given by Mary. How can we show our love to others?

Mark 14:9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

Luke 7:38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Yes, I remember this woman's act of love. It is one of the most touching stories in the Bible. We remember how Jesus washed the disciples feet. This was a humbling experience. Think how humble Jesus was, to allow this woman to wash his feet with her tears and anoint him with oil. Our Lord has a tender heart. He loves much, he loves you very much.

Eaglewings Topical Bible Studies

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