Mark 14:3-9
While Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made from pure nard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it over his head. But there were some who were indignant and said to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? Certainly this perfume could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor!” And they began to scold her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. In fact, you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you are not always going to have me. She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial. Amen, I tell you: Wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman did will also be told in memory of her.”
Dear Lord Jesus,
What were Your thoughts that day? Since You were only days from the Passover celebration and when Judas would betray You to the religious leader. This woman anoints You for your death with 300 denarii of expensive perfume, and Judas leaves and betrays You for 30 pieces of silver. The love this woman demonstrated to You as a response to the love You had done her. May we always remember the love this woman demonstrated in Your death preparation. All this happens at Simon’s home, a former leper, the joy he must have had for being healed and enjoying the Passover again with his family and friends.
Let’s not forget the even greater love, knowing You were about to be the greatest sacrifice of the Passover, far superior to all the Passover lambs that had been slain over the many years. God’s salvational plan was in place to restore fallen mankind from all our sins. Perhaps Your thoughts were the love You had for us all, that while we were still sinners, You gave up Your life to rescue and restore us to our heavenly Father.
Please forgive our sins and change our hearts so we will love You as this woman and leper did. Let us also love others so that we share the good news of Your grace and mercy with them, and they be restored from their leprosy of sin. Amen
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
May you know the sweet fragrance of Jesus’ death because Jesus has paid for all your sins through it. By faith in Him, His forgiveness is yours, and you have eternal life and salvation.