[Anglican Devotional 3 April 2023] Topic: Jesus Anointed In Bethany
TOPIC: Jesus Anointed In Bethany
READ: Mark 14: 3-11(NKJV)
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.
But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted?
“For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.
“For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.
“She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.
“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.”
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them.
And when they heard [it,] they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.
THE MESSAGE:
The anointing of Jesus at Bethany teaches the need for voluntary sacrificial giving as prompted by the Holy Spirit. Jesus had told his disciples that He would be betrayed, arrested, condemned and crucified during that feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread (Matt.26: 2;Mark 8: 31-33; John 10: 33-34). Jesus knew that because of the circumstances surrounding His death, the anointing by the woman in the text would serve to prepare His body for burial. The 300 denari was about one year’s wage, hence pouring such an expensive and fragrant oil on Jesus was considered as a waste by some of the disciples (vs.3-5). John 12: 4-6 shows that Judas Iscariot was the major critic of the woman’s action, and had done so for an evil motive. But Jesus defended her prophetic and sacrificial action (vs. 6-9).
Today some people offer great sacrifices of time and resources in love and appreciation to others but do the opposite for God. How sacrificial are your gifts for God? Are your offerings and other gifts befitting for the King of Kings? Are you a disciple like Judas who is fond of criticising others who make great sacrifices for the progress of Gods work? God has blessed you with time, talents, resources etc. Can you think of a sacrificial action you could make today in love like this woman, to advance the gospel?
PRAYER: O Lord, help me to be a useful instrument to advance the gospel in my time.
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