Meanwhile,
Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had
leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of
expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured
the perfume over his head. Some of those at the table were indignant. "Why
waste such expensive perfume?" they asked. "It could have been sold
for a year's wages and the money given to the poor!" So they scolded her harshly.
But Jesus replied, "Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a
good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help
them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. She has done what
she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. I tell you the
truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's
deed will be remembered and discussed." Mark 14:3-9
 |
| An old jar discarded in Israel. Did it once hold perfume? |
Don’t be
wasteful. That is what the some of the people at that meal with Jesus seemed to
be saying. But read between the lines…were they really wanting to help the
poor? Would they sell the oil for a year’s wages. Then they scolded that woman
like she was a child or something. Who were they to tell her what to do? Jesus
was a defender of the oppressed…the weak…the sick, forgotten or unloved. She
was preparing Him for His burial—but the indignant scolders probably didn’t
even hear or comprehend that fact.
Can we find
such an example in the Old Testament? No, although perfume is mentioned several
times…
A good reputation is more valuable than costly
perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born. Ecclesiastes 7:1
Was the day
that Jesus died better than the day He was born? I don’t think so…but this side of the cross we
can say that His resurrection was a far better day than the day He died. We can’t
separate His birth from His death. He was given in birth so that He could die…a
sacrifice for all mankind. His death fulfilled the reason He lived. As He said
on the cross…
Jesus ...said, "It is
finished!" Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. John 19:30
Finished. The
work He had been sent to earth to do was complete. He described this in His
prayer right before His arrest.
After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to
heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can
give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He
gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have
eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent
to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work
you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the
world began." John 17:1-5
Jesus “work” began
with creation…
On the seventh day God had finished his work
of creation, so he rested from all his work. Genesis 2:2
His “work” will
once again go on until it is completed.
Everyone in the world will know that I am the LORD.
My sword is in my hand, and it will not return to its sheath until its work
is finished. Ezekiel 21:5
And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look,
I am making everything new!" And then he said to me, "Write this
down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." And he also said,
"It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the
End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of
life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be
their God, and they will be my children. Revelation 21:5-7
Jesus’ work
on earth was finished with His death on the cross…but it goes on in Heaven and
in the fulfillment of eternal life. The perfume that was used to anoint His
head may have been costly…but not nearly as costly as the life that Jesus gave
on the cross for us. The greatest sacrifice. We are never worthy of that
sacrifice…but it is a gift with an aroma as sweet as that perfume. Can you
smell that gift given for you? Can you accept Jesus’ gift of sacrifice for your
sin? Don’t be wasteful by having pride that keeps you from seeing Jesus as your
Savior. Embrace the aroma of life…forever.
Prayer
~ Thank You, Jesus, that You willingly and obediently took on our sins so that
one day we can safely go home to God—pure and righteous. Lord…may we live a
life filled with love, following Your example. You loved us and offered Yourself
as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:2.
Daily
Bible Reading: Obadiah; Psalms 82-83
© 2018 Text and
photo by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
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