Mark – God is On Our Side
Have you ever wondered how you will be remembered? As believers, who have been saved by grace, once we pass from this life into the arms of Jesus in heaven, I don’t think we will care what others think…finally! The glory of seeing God in heaven will take over all our thoughts with praise and worship for the One who created us and loved us.
I don’t ponder this “being remembered” often for my thinking is too caught up in this day. I can only handle what God is leading me to and through this day, right now. I want what God wants this day. For it is in this day that God’s glory will be seen all around me and I don’t want to miss it. It is in this day that I will ponder where God is leading and what He wants me to be and do. I am ready only for this day. That doesn’t mean God will not prepare me for future days, but that is future. I must be ready for today. I must listen for God. I must obey when He calls…today.
I’m pretty sure that this woman’s thinking was along this line of thought. She loved her Lord, for He had restored her, changed her thinking about herself in relationship to Him. She wanted to show her gratitude in the best way she could think of…on that day. So she did. It didn’t matter what others might think. I’m not sure that even occurred to her. It was about Jesus. Only honoring Jesus. She bathed him in precious, anointing oil, bought and saved for her own burial some day. But for THIS DAY, she was lead into the room to anoint her Lord.
“Leave her alone”, says Jesus, who affirms her obedience and gratitude. “Don’t criticize her.” She will “be remembered” for loving Jesus. These words from Jesus to a woman who loves Him with all that is in her causes my heart to burst, my eyes to tear, and my mind to truly remember this woman on this day.
Mark 14, NLT
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”
3 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.
4 Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. 5 “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.
6 But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? 7 You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”
Dear Lord,
I, too, love you with all my heart, mind and soul. Thank you for all you have done, are doing and will do in my life. Thank you for this day. I’m listening and watching for You this day.
In Jesus Name, Amen
