Love is a Beautiful Thing
"And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” Mark 14:3-9
In reference to a work of art, or the birth of a child, or something captivating, have you ever heard someone say, “It’s a beautiful thing?’ Our creator God, in whose image we were created, gave us the ability to behold and appreciate beauty. It’s been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is true that what may be beautiful to one person may not appeal to another person. However, there are somethings that ought to be universally beautiful to all. And one of those things Jesus highlights in our text.
Jesus saw something so beautiful in the actions of a woman, Mary, that He declared, “And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her” (v.9). God, in whose image we were created, sees and appreciates beautiful things. What was so beautiful about what the woman did to Jesus that He made sure that it would be recorded in the gospels to be proclaimed to the world and not be forgotten? I want to submit to you that her love and devotion to Jesus was a beautiful thing.
Now although she expressed her love and devotion to Jesus by pouring out the very costly ointment on His head, the ointment itself is not what was beautiful to Jesus. The ointment or perfume was something that others appreciated; one of them being Judas. But what they didn’t appreciate was what the woman did with it. They saw what she did with the ointment as a waste. Behind their skewed perception was the excuse that it could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. According to the gospel of John chapter 12, the ring leader behind this perception was Judas Iscariot. Referring to Judas, John wrote, “He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it” (v.6).
So, others, especially Judas, didn’t appreciate what the woman did because their hearts, which were tainted by greed, were focused on the wrong thing. Although much could be said about the costliness of the ointment that Mary poured on Jesus, when Jesus went on to explain what was so beautiful about what she did, He didn’t mention how expensive the perfume was. Rather He focused more on the timing and purpose of her actions. He said, “For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial” (v.7-8).
Although the ointment was worth a lot of money, it wasn’t how much it was worth that demonstrated her love for Jesus. Rather her love and devotion was demonstrated in that she did what she could with what she had. Do you know, that God doesn’t expect us to out give anyone else, or to give a certain amount of our time, talents and treasure. What God expects is for us to do what we can with what He has given to us to serve His kingdom. And we all have something to contribute.
Secondly, she not only did what she could with what she had, but she did it for His burial before His burial. She knew He was going to lay down His life. And unlike the other disciples, who seemed to dismiss the revelation of His coming death, she took it to heart. After revealing to His disciples that He was going to be killed, they seemed to be more focused on their position in God’s kingdom, rather than how they could serve His kingdom. The love and adoration the woman had for Jesus was not focused on what she could gain, but on what she could give. In fact, the love that she had could not wait to give. She didn’t wait till He died to anoint His body for burial with the costly ointment. She anointed Jesus, who she treasured above all things, for burial before His death.
What was beautiful about what the woman did for Jesus? O how she loved Jesus was beautiful! And her love was beautiful not because she gave Jesus an expensive gift, but because it was a love that could not wait to give. True love will enable one to wait when it’s necessary to wait. Jacob waited seven years to marry Rachel. Love will make you willing to wait. But when the opportunity presents itself, or when there is a need, love does not hesitate or procrastinate. When we truly love, we can’t wait to demonstrate our love in words and deeds, even if it costs us. Love doesn’t wait for a funeral to say, I love you. Love will make way. Love is creative.
Regarding Mary’s love and devotion to Jesus, Charles Spurgeon noted: “There is a tendency within us all to look at this story and to say, “I love Jesus also. Tell me what I should do to show it.” But part of the woman’s great love was displayed in the fact that she came up with the idea to express her love for Jesus in this way. If there was a command to do this, it would never be this precious. “‘Oh,’ cries a brother, ‘tell me what I could do for Jesus!’ Nay, but, brother, I must not tell you. The better part of the whole matter will lie in the hallowed ingenuity of your spirit in inventing something for him out of your own fervent soul.”
Where did Mary’s selfless devotion spring from? Paul wrote, “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
Remember, while her sister Martha was busy serving, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and communed with love incarnate (Luke 10:38-42). There’s a time to get busy for Jesus, but if our service is not the overflow of our love relationship with Jesus, like Martha, we will serve with a grumbling spirit instead of a grateful spirit. While others grumbled, Mary could not wait to love on Jesus with the costly ointment because she knew how much she was loved by Him. You’ll never know how to truly love until you find that God’s love is enough.
Love can’t wait. Love doesn’t wait for someone else to tell you to do something. Love doesn’t focus on what others should be doing for the poor. Love will see needs. And when love sees needs, love doesn’t wait around for someone else to do something about it. Love doesn’t make excuses. Love doesn’t say, somebody else might be able to do it better than me. Love will find a way. Love will figure it out. Love can’t wait, but love will wait. O how beautiful is love like this.
Blessings,
Pastor Marco
In reference to a work of art, or the birth of a child, or something captivating, have you ever heard someone say, “It’s a beautiful thing?’ Our creator God, in whose image we were created, gave us the ability to behold and appreciate beauty. It’s been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is true that what may be beautiful to one person may not appeal to another person. However, there are somethings that ought to be universally beautiful to all. And one of those things Jesus highlights in our text.
Jesus saw something so beautiful in the actions of a woman, Mary, that He declared, “And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her” (v.9). God, in whose image we were created, sees and appreciates beautiful things. What was so beautiful about what the woman did to Jesus that He made sure that it would be recorded in the gospels to be proclaimed to the world and not be forgotten? I want to submit to you that her love and devotion to Jesus was a beautiful thing.
Now although she expressed her love and devotion to Jesus by pouring out the very costly ointment on His head, the ointment itself is not what was beautiful to Jesus. The ointment or perfume was something that others appreciated; one of them being Judas. But what they didn’t appreciate was what the woman did with it. They saw what she did with the ointment as a waste. Behind their skewed perception was the excuse that it could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. According to the gospel of John chapter 12, the ring leader behind this perception was Judas Iscariot. Referring to Judas, John wrote, “He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it” (v.6).
So, others, especially Judas, didn’t appreciate what the woman did because their hearts, which were tainted by greed, were focused on the wrong thing. Although much could be said about the costliness of the ointment that Mary poured on Jesus, when Jesus went on to explain what was so beautiful about what she did, He didn’t mention how expensive the perfume was. Rather He focused more on the timing and purpose of her actions. He said, “For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial” (v.7-8).
Although the ointment was worth a lot of money, it wasn’t how much it was worth that demonstrated her love for Jesus. Rather her love and devotion was demonstrated in that she did what she could with what she had. Do you know, that God doesn’t expect us to out give anyone else, or to give a certain amount of our time, talents and treasure. What God expects is for us to do what we can with what He has given to us to serve His kingdom. And we all have something to contribute.
Secondly, she not only did what she could with what she had, but she did it for His burial before His burial. She knew He was going to lay down His life. And unlike the other disciples, who seemed to dismiss the revelation of His coming death, she took it to heart. After revealing to His disciples that He was going to be killed, they seemed to be more focused on their position in God’s kingdom, rather than how they could serve His kingdom. The love and adoration the woman had for Jesus was not focused on what she could gain, but on what she could give. In fact, the love that she had could not wait to give. She didn’t wait till He died to anoint His body for burial with the costly ointment. She anointed Jesus, who she treasured above all things, for burial before His death.
What was beautiful about what the woman did for Jesus? O how she loved Jesus was beautiful! And her love was beautiful not because she gave Jesus an expensive gift, but because it was a love that could not wait to give. True love will enable one to wait when it’s necessary to wait. Jacob waited seven years to marry Rachel. Love will make you willing to wait. But when the opportunity presents itself, or when there is a need, love does not hesitate or procrastinate. When we truly love, we can’t wait to demonstrate our love in words and deeds, even if it costs us. Love doesn’t wait for a funeral to say, I love you. Love will make way. Love is creative.
Regarding Mary’s love and devotion to Jesus, Charles Spurgeon noted: “There is a tendency within us all to look at this story and to say, “I love Jesus also. Tell me what I should do to show it.” But part of the woman’s great love was displayed in the fact that she came up with the idea to express her love for Jesus in this way. If there was a command to do this, it would never be this precious. “‘Oh,’ cries a brother, ‘tell me what I could do for Jesus!’ Nay, but, brother, I must not tell you. The better part of the whole matter will lie in the hallowed ingenuity of your spirit in inventing something for him out of your own fervent soul.”
Where did Mary’s selfless devotion spring from? Paul wrote, “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
Remember, while her sister Martha was busy serving, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and communed with love incarnate (Luke 10:38-42). There’s a time to get busy for Jesus, but if our service is not the overflow of our love relationship with Jesus, like Martha, we will serve with a grumbling spirit instead of a grateful spirit. While others grumbled, Mary could not wait to love on Jesus with the costly ointment because she knew how much she was loved by Him. You’ll never know how to truly love until you find that God’s love is enough.
Love can’t wait. Love doesn’t wait for someone else to tell you to do something. Love doesn’t focus on what others should be doing for the poor. Love will see needs. And when love sees needs, love doesn’t wait around for someone else to do something about it. Love doesn’t make excuses. Love doesn’t say, somebody else might be able to do it better than me. Love will find a way. Love will figure it out. Love can’t wait, but love will wait. O how beautiful is love like this.
Blessings,
Pastor Marco