BY Bailey T. Hurley
Jesus’s life evoked varied, and often strong, responses. In today’s reading from Mark, we find two such responses. There’s the woman who poured out all she had, giving Him her best, and there’s Judas, seeking momentary gain.
In Mark 14, Jesus was reclining at a dinner party when a woman burst into the room, broke an expensive jar of perfume, and poured it out on Jesus’s head. Talk about a public display of affection! She had no shame about using her most valuable possession to worship Jesus and give Him glory. The party guests chastised her actions as wasteful, but Jesus proclaimed, “Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her” (Mark 14:9). Jesus told the guests that the price of the woman’s perfume paled in comparison to His coming sacrifice. She prepared Jesus’s body like a King, an honor worthy of the one who promised eternal life (Mark 10:29–31).
In contrast, we see Judas and the Pharisees also preparing for the death of Jesus. But they did not seek to honor Him like a King—instead, they plotted to have Him put to death as a criminal. Judas was offered money to betray Jesus, and he took it (Mark 14:10–12). Instead of pouring out everything of earthly value in exchange for “a hundred times more…and eternal life in the age to come,” he schemed in the shadows and waited to hand Jesus over for some silver coins. He put his trust in a tangible, physical thing he could hold that day instead of what is eternal (Mark 10:29–31).
As I read this passage, I find myself wrestling with dueling desires: wanting to honor Jesus and trust in the future He has promised, and wanting to run away and put my trust in what I think will meet my needs today.
Jesus knows the heart of every person. He knew the heart of Judas, the heart of the woman who honored Him with perfume, and He knows our own wayward hearts—and He still died for us. Even when our hearts are turned away from Him, Jesus pursues us and had already prepared a way for us to turn back to Him.
When we are tempted like Judas to run after other things, I pray we will remember what Jesus has done for us and what He promises for our future. May His compassion and saving grace lead us to be as bold and faithful as the woman at that dinner the weekend Jesus died, honoring His gift of salvation with the fragrant offering of a surrendered life for His glory (Ephesians 5:1–2).
56 thoughts on "Plotting & Preparation"
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“I shall always feel obliged to Judas for figuring up the price of that box of costly nard. He did it to blame her, but we will let his figures stand, and think the more of her the more he put down to the account of waste. I should never have known what it cost, nor would you either, if Judas had not marked down in his pocket-book.” (Spurgeon)
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The costly perfume the woman used on Jesus is called nard, or spikenard. It’s an essential oil from the plant & I like to believe she was anointing Christ in preparation for what was coming. The properties of this oil helps relieve stress & anxiety. She has definitely been remembered throughout time for her act of worship
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Something that stood out to me is how the people around this woman looked at her sacrifice as wasteful. I heard Holy Spirit whisper to my heart “giving all you have to the Lord is never a waste”. I’m a young mother and I often feel like others view me as “wasting” my life to stay at home, but it’s never a waste to pour yourself out for the good of others and the glory of God.
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Amen!!!
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Dueling desires stood out to me so strongly. Wanting to honor Jesus and trust in the future He has promised, and wanting to run away and put my trust in what I think will meet my needs today. I’m trying to keep my eyes focused on Jesus through out my day. Not just at the time of my study. To remember what is the most important. Right now that is to love every minute I have with my son. I ask again to please keep Tanner in your prayers. I see decline and I’m praying the God will “knit” his body back together. Thank you so much SRT sisters.
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Yes, so wonderful she was so obedient and sensitive.
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Now, I assure you that wherever the gospel is preached all over the world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”
A small act of worship by the woman whose name we do not know, a whole heap of abuse and disrespectfulness from the men around, and yet..
But God..
He saw her, He praised her, He honoured her, to the point of saying that this act will be remembered forever znd a day as the gospel is preached. Wow!The men saw it as wrong, Jesus saw it as beautiful.
The men saw it as a waste of money, Jesus says its not wasted.
The men scoffed and moaned, Jesus reprimanded them.Clearly, they did not get it!
Like the old lady with her last pennies, this woman, whose name we know not, gave her all, prepared to lose it all in worship of the One she knew to be the Savior, her Savior.
Oh Lord Jesus, may I give all I have to worship you. May I not just pour my woes and worries at your feet, but pour all I have from my heart in grateful thanks to you Lord Jesus for all you have given and done for me..
May it not always be about gain, gain for me, and what I can get from you Lord.. Forgive my Judas heart, Jesus. Forgive my wandering heart..But God..
Amen.
Blessings sisters. ❤
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2 person, with different heart , desire ,perspective, mindset , way and of course different future. Great study. Thank you!
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