Study in Mark’s Gospel

1. Study in Mark’s Gospel Presentation 43

2. A Beautiful Deed Chap 14v1-11 Presentation 43

3. Introduction One of the hardest things to cope with in the Christian life is criticism and misunderstanding that is directed towards both our person and our Christian service. Many of Jesus’ followers have been branded extremists because they were determined to push their love and loyalty to him beyond the boundaries of moderation and mediocrity. This is what a genuine commitment is eager to do. This passage reveals extravagant love and resolute commitment while at the same time challenging the present day mediocrity of Christian service. Presentation 43

4. The Woman's Action The extravagant disciple in our passage is unnamed though we do know that a few days earlier, Mary the sister of Martha had performed a similar act [Jn.12v1ff]. Mary’s family had a great deal to be thankful for. Jesus had raised their brother Lazarus from the dead. But here a second woman in a moment of quiet commitment, is determined that Jesus should be given her most precious possession, an alabaster jar of costly perfume. The language of love is extravagance. If a man takes his fiancée out for dinner and orders for himself a 16 oz. steak but tells his fiancée to choose, 'the cheapest thing on the menu’, she might well begin to question the quality of his love! Presentation 43

5. The Woman's Action Not only was this woman extravagant in her love, she was unrestrained, she held nothing back. In the middle-east normally only a single drop of oil would be placed on the head of an honoured guest but Mary poured out every last drop. All that she considered precious was given to Jesus. For many people the Lordship of Christ seems threatening and demanding. They hold back certain areas of their lives from him. He is excluded from certain decisions or from influencing certain relationships. We fear our happiness will be seriously damaged if Jesus has free access to our lives. But I know of no Christian who has said, 'I wish I had not given myself so enthusiastically to Jesus, for my life has been impoverished as a result’. Presentation 43

6. The Woman's Action What motivated this woman’s wholehearted commitment? Can I suggest it was influenced more by what Jesus was about to do for her on the cross than by what he may have already done. Jesus makes it clear that her action revealed tremendous spiritual insight cf. v8... Jesus’ disciples had failed to grasp the purpose of his death. Their listening had been coloured by selfish expectations. They could not see why the cross was so important but this woman saw - those who love most see furthest. She knew the crucifixion was immanent. She understood something of its significance and in the light of that brought her gift. Only when we gain insight into the significance of the cross of Christ will our response to Jesus be extravagant and wholehearted.. Presentation 43

7. The Woman's Action How do we explain her depth of spiritual understanding? It resulted from sitting at Jesus’ feet and drinking in his teaching. Some think this woman was in fact Mary. If so we know that she had a great appetite for God's Word - something her sister Martha had not always appreciated! Extravagant love for Jesus will remain a puzzle to those who have not sat at his feet and learned who he is, why he came and what he has accomplished for us. That means spending time with your Bible. It means seizing the opportunity to have God's Word explained in church meetings. There is an indissoluble relationship in scripture between loving Jesus and having an appetite for his Word. Presentation 43

8. THE DISCIPLES’ CRITICISM Mary's spiritual insight was not shared by Judas who had no real love for Jesus. He viewed Mary’s extravagant love as a pitiful waste asv4.We read in Prov. 27v21 that 'a man is tried by his praise' - in other words, those people we speak well or ill of, reveal a great deal about the state of our own hearts. Judas revealed the state of his heart. His criticism operated at two levels. There was the voiced criticism that sounded so plausible - 'the need of the poor!' but the real root of his criticism was his own greed. He kept the disciple's purse and took every opportunity to help himself. But in this case he had not been able to benefit from this gift. As far as he was concerned in was money down the drain! Criticism of sacrificial service always reveals a heart out of tune with God. Presentation 43

9. THE DISCIPLES’ CRITICISM Criticism of Christian service will often operate on two levels. On the surface it may appear plausible but a hidden agenda often lurks under the surface. This is illustrated in Acts 19v23. Paul was preaching in Ephesus the centre of the worship of the Greek goddess Artemis. Men and women were coming to faith in their droves. The idol souvenir trade collapsed. The preaching of the gospel was hurting his pocket of the silversmiths, men like Demetrius who incited a city riot. His public criticism of Paul was, 'our religion is in danger' but the private criticism was, 'my livelihood is in danger'. When criticised for serving Jesus we will often find a deeper motive than the one that is made public. Presentation 43

10. THE DISCIPLES’ CRITICISM Paradoxically, Judas is the focus of ‘waste’ in this incident. He had wasted the opportunity to become a loyal disciple of Jesus. He wasted the valuable teaching he was given. When Jesus spoke of his love for hisdisciples he never discriminated against Judas. The intensity of Judas’ anger towards this woman springs from the simple fact that unlike her, he had refused to give his life to Christ. He had refused costly discipleship. Following Jesus for financial gain he could understand, but to give and not to count the cost – that was beyond comprehension! Incidentally, the extravagance of this woman's discipleship seems to have served as the catalyst for Judas’ betrayal of Jesus cf. v10-11. Presentation 43

11. Jesus' Favourable Response Jesus was not slow to come to the woman’s defence in the face of mounting criticism. 'Leave her alone,' before speaking words the would ring through the centuries 'she has done a beautiful thing!' v6. Where others saw waste, Jesus saw beauty. The cross was hours away and this woman came to minister encouragement to Jesus. We noted how hours previously the sacrificial giving of the widow at the temple treasury had encouraged Jesus’ heart. She had given the little she had to God. Her encouragement had been unconscious and unwitting. But this woman’s action was conscious and purposeful. She wanted to express her devotion to Jesus while there was still time. What about us? Presentation 43

12. Jesus' Favourable Response We read that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea bought 100lb of spices to embalm Jesus’ dead body. If they had only declared their love sooner what encouragement they might have been to Jesus in his suffering. We are often late in expressing our gratitude to our friends, and to Jesus, for all they have done for us. Our friends would be better served and encouraged if we expressed our gratitude to them on this side of the grave. A minutes encouragement while they are alive is more useful than an hour long eulogy once they are dead! When it comes to expressing gratitude to Jesus, we are all often full of good intentions. Will life pass us by before we are able to do anything beautiful for Jesus? Presentation 43

13. Jesus' Favourable Response You may say, ‘I not in a position to do much for Jesus’. But Jesus said of this woman, 'She did what she could' .This woman may not have had all of the domestic gifts possessed by Martha another inhabitant of Bethany. She might not have been as organised as Martha who was probably the sort of person who was always being asked for advice and perhaps also for her recipes! Perhaps no one would have asked this woman for her recipes or advice. Her area of service was extremely limited. But she did what she could! Presentation 43

14. Conclusion Jesus does not expect us all to bring the same kind of service. We have different gifts. Have you ever said to Jesus, 'I am not very much, I'm really very ordinary but all I am I give to you’. That kind of consecration delights his heart! This woman gave the best to Jesus. What would such extravagance mean for you? Clearly, it means something different for each one of us. For parents it can mean allowing their child to serve God overseas. For some it can mean putting their service for God before their desire to accumulate wealth. It can mean opening up our home and so offer Christian hospitality to those who are lonely and in need of encouragement. It could mean giving valuable time to God in order to be involved in the outreach of the church. Ask yourself, ‘What is it I hold dear? What could I make available to Jesus?’ Presentation 43

15. Conclusion Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones was a bright prodigy of the queen’s physician but he left a promising and lucrative career in medicine in order to be a preacher in an obscure Welsh valley. Friends thought what a waste! That little church grew as scores of people came to faith. He was later called to be minister in Westminster Chapel London and exercised a ministry that was to transform 1000s of lives. Today it is not the so-called 'waste' that Lloyd Jones is remembered for. Like the woman in our story they are both remembered for having done, ‘a beautiful thing for Jesus’.The extravagance of your service may be criticised but it is Jesus’ evaluation that is of supreme importance. Can you think of anything more rewarding than hearing Jesus say, “You have done a beautiful thing for me.” Presentation 43