Do What You Can! (Mark 14:3-9)
(Mark 14:1-9; Matthew 26:7-13; Luke 7:36-40; John 12:3-8, cf. [confer])
Introduction
In our pericope (Pericope is an English word with Greek origins for: a passage from a written work) this morning, I have chosen Mark 14:3-9. It is my opinion that although the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John record some similar details regarding a woman, an alabaster jar, a fragrant ointment, and an anointing, the critical reader will conclude that three separate anointings occur at three separate locations, with three different characters, using three different methods, at three separate times, with four different attitudes being displayed by the observers, for two different reasons.
Let me elaborate.
1. Locations: Matthew and Mark’s account takes place in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper; whereas, Luke states this event takes place at a Pharisee’s home and John places the event at the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus in Bethany.
2. Characters: All four accounts have a woman anointing Jesus with ointment from an alabaster jar. However, John tells us the woman’s name is Mary, but Luke informs his readers the woman was a sinner (Even though many scholars take the liberty to suggest she was a prostitute, the Bible mentions no specific sin or sins. Some even attribute this character to Mary Magdalene, but this too does not fit the text) and Matthew and Mark state only that a woman approached Jesus.
3. Methods: Matthew and Mark penned that the woman poured the ointment on Jesus’ head. Luke and John say the woman anointed Jesus’ feet. Luke further writes that the woman washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them dry with her hair. John says the woman anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.
4. Times: Matthew and Mark place the event two days before the Passover. John places the event six days before the Passover and Luke gives his readers no time frame.
5. Reason for the Event: Matthew, Mark and John place the event just prior to the Passion and focuses on the Sacrifice. Luke places the event early in his gospel and focuses more upon the contrast of humility and self-righteousness.
6. Observers’ Attitude: Matthew mentions that the disciples were indignant, Mark says, “Some who said to themselves,” Luke focuses on the Pharisee’s concerns that a sinful woman is touching Jesus and John identifies one disciple as expressing concern: Judas Iscariot.
I will, therefore, intentionally refrain from resolving this matter any further and allow the Biblical scholars, linguists and textual critics to discern why this is. Thus, I have come to the simple conclusion that although there are similar aspects to each account, we are actually seeing three separate anointings (Matthew/Mark; Luke; John). With that said, let us focus this morning primarily on Mark’s account.
The scene is Bethany, just a few miles east from Jerusalem two days before the Passover. Soon Jesus will experience the Passion. He knows this and decides to hang out at the grateful Simon’s home. Simon was once a leper and most likely healed by Jesus of this horrible disease.
Read Text: Mark 14:3-9
I. An Act of Worship
I believe we err by reducing the term, “Act of Worship,” to the singing of a few songs or casually raising our arms towards heaven. The word worship literally means worth-ship. It is a reverence or devotion to a deity. A church service or other rite demonstrates this. Acts of Worship come in a variety of methods. Expressing intense love, devotion or admiration are all Acts of Worship.
A. Unconditional Giving
All of these methods have something in common: an UNCONDITIONAL GIVING of all. For example, Giving of one’s Self can be expressed by lifting of one’s hands, bowing one’s head, or laying prostrate before God…Acts of Worship…to name a few. Giving of our Treasure {tithes and offerings} each service are, “Acts of Worship.” Giving of our Time to help clean the church, repair the building, teaching a class, leading a small group are all “Acts of Worship.” Giving of our Talents is an, “Act of Worship.” The Bible says, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Colossians 3:23).
“And while He {Jesus} was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His {Jesus’} head” (Mark 14:3).
So, as Jesus was reclining at the table along with His friends, a woman overwhelmed with love takes an alabaster jar containing a very expensive ointment, opens the container {literally breaks the seal} and unconditionally pours all of the precious contents over Jesus’ head.
II. Hindrances to Worship
Our Acts of Worship can be hindered by people, motives and circumstances.
A. People
Have you ever noticed how a critical remark or insensitive gesture can distract us from worshiping God? Whenever we move our eyes from Jesus and begin to focus on others, we become critical and/or insensitive. Listen to our text:
Mark 14:4-6. “But some were indignantly remarking to one another, ‘For what purpose has this ointment been wasted? For this ointment might have been sold for over three hundred denarii {that is more than a year’s wages}, and the money given to the poor.’ And they murmured at her. But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a beautiful deed in me.’”
Sound familiar? Unfortunately one can expect people to be criticized when you begin to display Acts of Worship. However, take notice of the woman in our text. She stays focused and continues her Act of Worship regardless of what other may say or do. Oh, yes, there were those who criticized her, but Jesus knew her heart and what she had done. No wonder He said, “She has done a beautiful deed in me.”
B. Motive
What is one’s motive for worshiping? Is your Act of Worship unconditional to the Lord as an expressing of love and devotion? Or, is it to draw attention to self? Perhaps, the motive is causative, “If I do this then I’ll get that?” If one’s Act of Worship is unconditionally giving to the Lord with pure motives, the Lord, who knows your heart, will stand up for you. Listen to our text:
Mark 14:7-8a, “For the poor you always have with you, and whenever you wish, you can do them good; but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could;
C. Circumstance
Sick people came hoping to be healed of their sicknesses. Poor and hungry people came hoping for a hand-out. His disciples followed Him because they wanted to be a part of His coming Kingdom (earthly). Religious leaders followed Him in an attempt trap Him by His words. Great crowds followed Him because they wanted to see or get something, not because they loved Him. Did you know there are no records of anyone ever coming to Jesus and saying, “Lord, I love You?” In fact, hardly anyone even bothered to come back and say, “Thank you,” after He had healed them (Luke 17:11-19, cf.). My friends, this woman did what she could…and we must too.
III. Worship: An Expression of Love
Perhaps you are not a teacher, a musician, mechanically inclined or feel you have nothing to offer the Lord. I want to encourage you and say, “Begin with your heart.” Offer your heart to the Lord unconditionally. This woman found a way to express her love for Jesus and He will show you how you can express your love for Him too.
Mark 14:8b-9, “She has anointed My body beforehand into the burial.’ ‘And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, that also which this woman has done will be spoken of in memory of her.’”
A. A No Name Woman
When I reflect upon the woman in our story, I see a common person willing to give greatly as an Act of Worship to the Lord. We do not even know who this woman was, but perhaps that is the point. The no name woman may represent all of us? How do we express our love and gratitude towards Jesus?
B. An Enthusiastic Giver
Have you ever wondered what a difference would be made in the church, if we could become as enthusiastic for Jesus as we are enthusiastic for other things?
Illustration: Each week during the football season, hundreds of thousands of people fill stadiums all over the country to cheer on their favorite teams. Now, I’ve been a Los Angeles Rams fan for almost 40 years, through the good and bad times. I do think you can be a football fan and a Christian at the same time, although there are some who seem to have their priorities mixed up. I’ve watched the Rams play at the L.A. Coliseum before they moved to Orange County (Angel Stadium) and I know there is a price to be paid in order to watch them there. Unless you are among the first to arrive, you will not find a parking place. You’ll end up miles away and pay an enormous amount to park your car and you will walk through some of the most dangerous streets in the world.
When you finally do get into the stadium, you’ll often find yourself sitting among inconsiderate people blowing smoke in your face and spilling their drinks around you. You’ll swelter in the heat of the early months of the season and shiver in the cold of the later months. You’ll cheer yourself hoarse, hollering, screaming and behaving like some kind of fanatic. You’ll pay too much money for a cold hot dog and drink watered down pop. When you leave, you’ll walk miles to get back to your car and fight the most horrendous traffic known to mankind; yet, you’ll tell anyone who will listen, “I had a wonderful time!”
Have you ever stopped to think what could take place in the church, if we were that enthusiastic for the things of God? Well, that woman was enthusiastic without hesitation or reservations; she found a way to express it.
IV. Worship: An Extravagant Giver
It was an extravagant and foolish act in the eyes of those who watched this woman pour such an expensive item over the head of Jesus, but love is often extravagant, isn’t it? Love does extravagant things. All of us can remember buying things we couldn’t afford, to give to people we love. We sacrificed to purchase those treasured mementos, but love does that. Love does things that may appear to be foolish and wasteful as it tries to say, “This is how much I love you.”
A. Tipping God
Have you ever heard the term, “Tip God?” This is when the offering bag circulates and one digs into their pocket and finds a few coins and cheerfully tosses it into the bag. It is when one attends services in-between their other activities. It is when one is just too tired to make an evening service, but rested enough to make the 9:00 PM movie showing.
Maybe another point is that the woman could have just opened the container up and poured a few drops of the expensive ointment on the head of Jesus. Everybody would have said, “My, what a wonderful act of devotion” or, “My, how generous. Look how much she loves him!”
But this woman poured it all over the top of Jesus’ head…every last drop. So in this one fleeting moment, when the opportunity was there, she seized it and gave her all.
V. Worship: Doing What You Can
My heart sings with joy and peace, when I hear Jesus’ words, “She did what she could.”
When I stand before God, and He opens the Book of Life and comes to my name, and Jesus says, “Father, this is Don Brockus. He is mine, and he did what he could. Many others did more. Some did less, but he took what We gave him and he did what he could.” I can think of nothing better.
This woman didn’t have much, but what she did have she gave to Jesus - not to Simon, the Leper, not to Peter, James or John, but to Jesus. She didn’t do it for anybody else. Again, what she did, she did just for Jesus. Now ask yourself, “What have I ever done just for Jesus? How have I expressed my love to Him?”
“Lord, I just want to tell You, ‘I love You.’ I don’t know how else to do it, except for you to take the most valuable thing I have and give it to You. So today I offer You my life. It is Yours to make into whatever you want me to be.”
Illustration
As a part of an assignment for a doctoral thesis, a college student spent a year with a group of Navajo Indians on a reservation in the Southwest. As part of his research, he lived with one of the Navajo families, sleeping in their hut, eating their food, working with them and generally lived the life of a 20th-century Indian. The old grandmother of the family spoke no English, yet a very close friendship formed between them. They spent a great deal of time sharing a friendship that was meaningful to each, yet unexplainable to anyone else. In spite of the language difference, they shared the common language of love and understood each other. Over the months he learned a few Navajo phrases and she picked up a little of the English language. When it was time for him to return to the campus to complete his thesis, the tribe held a going-away celebration. It was marked by sadness, since the young man had become close to the whole village and all would miss him. As he prepared to leave, the old grandmother came to tell him good-bye. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she placed her hands on either side of his face, looked directly into his eyes and said, “I like me best when I’m with you.”
Isn’t that the way we feel in the presence of Jesus? He brings out the best in us. We learn to see ourselves as worthy and valuable, when we’re in His presence. The hurts, the cares, the disappointments of our lives are behind us when we look in His eyes and realize the depth of His love.
VI. Conclusion
God loves you more than you can ever love Him. When I extend His invitation, it is always an invitation of love. You see, I can never pay Him back, nor can you. I can do anything and everything in the way of sacrifice, but I can never repay the debt of love that I owe Him. God doesn’t require the debt to be repaid. He just wants us to accept what He has done for us and to love Him for it. He has given you His only Son, Jesus. Do you love Him for that?
If so, then express that love this morning and show God that you really do love Him. As the ushers come forward to distribute the communion elements this morning and as we approach the Table of our Lord, I extend an appropriate opportunity for you respond to His offer. Will the ushers come forward?
