Mother’s, whether you go to work or work at home, your work always comes to you doesn’t it? You can’t put a price on mother-hood! A mother is a chauffer, a doctor, a lawyer, a counselor and so much more!
Who will be called a virtuous woman? Let’s give our mother’s a hand- clap of praise!
A man went to heaven and was told to bring back 3 of the most beautiful things there. 1. A rose. 2. A baby’s smile. 3. A mother’s love. Soon the man found that the rose wilts and dies. A baby’s smile comes and goes, but a mother’s love is always the same!
Women, Who will Worship Christ? Text: Mark 14:1-9
1 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 trickery and put Him to death. 2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”
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 oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 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 her sharply. (It was her oil!)
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. 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.”
The scene is Bethany, just a few miles from Jerusalem, & the time is the night before Jesus’ triumphal entry. In just a few days He will be arrested, tried, convicted, & crucified. And Jesus knows it. He knows exactly what is going to happen.
So what does Jesus do on this night? He goes to a party given in His honor by Simon, the Leper. He goes to enjoy good food & conversation, a last visit with His friends before He goes into Jerusalem, & before He dies.
While most if not all in this house planned against Jesus, there was one who came there that day only to love and worship Him! She had no hidden agenda just to give Jesus her best! When we begin to give Jesus our best He pours His Spirit and love on us! So what’s your agenda?
You see, it’s sad to say, but most of the people who followed Jesus came to Him for selfish motives, whether they thought about it that way or not. Sick people came hoping that He would heal their sicknesses. Poor and hungry people came because He had the reputation of having compassion upon them. His disciples followed Him because He talked about a kingdom, and they wanted to be a part of it. Religious leaders followed Him because they wanted to trap Him by His words. Great crowds followed Him. But most of them were there because they wanted something, not because they loved Him!
Now I would like for you to look at another book on this same passage.
Luke 7: 37-38 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
This woman is a good person to admire and learn from. First, she shows strong courage going inside this house to worship Jesus!
She came from behind His chair weeping, and somewhere at this time she takes her oil and pours it on Jesus’ head. And then while she’s weeping on His feet, she cleans His feet with her hair, and while pouring more perfume on His feet; she begins to kiss His feet!
This made Jesus’ opponents angry with resentment that Christ would allow this to occur! (Jealousy)
These men said something like: “ Stop this prostitute”, but Jesus only feels this woman’s love and motherly concern! (Her whole life was changed!)
He knew that she understood forgiveness, she was called, she had strong faith to believe that what she was doing mattered, she’s finished with opinions, she’s living in the present and looking forward to her future and now she has a generous heart and she wants to share it with her Lord and Savior!
Luke 7:39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."
Yes, Jesus knew who was touching Him, and He loves repentance!
This alabaster flask of fragrant oil maybe was something that she wore for her good paying customers. It represented her old life style, but now it’s being used in the right way for her new life in Christ!
She is saying with her actions, “With the same enthusiasm that I once gave to the sins of the world, I now give myself to You Jesus!"
Remember this, when you are willing to anoint Jesus “you” in return will be anointed!
Listen to Jesus’ rebuttal, Luke 7:40-43 Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. 41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more? 43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
Now listen to Jesus’ loving rebuke, Luke 7: 44-50 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Going back to the main text in Mark 14 there are two important keys to remember. In vs. 8 & 9 Jesus says, this grateful woman has anointed my body for burial, and secondly, wherever the Gospel is preached this woman will be remembered!
Will every mother and lady come up to the altar?
Close your eyes and think about this, When you stand before the throne of Almighty God, & when He opens the Book of Life & comes to your name, & sees all the sins that are blotted out by the blood of Jesus, more than anything else you will long for Jesus to say, "Father, this is my daughter (Put your name there.) She has been faithful, and I am well pleased with her, she loves Me, and she worships Me and I give her unto You!
Men raise your hand this way as every woman holds the hand next to her. Men let’s pray!
