How does this verse challenge our priorities in serving Jesus? Setting the Scene • Mark 14:8 records Jesus’ words: “She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for burial.” • A woman—identified in John 12 as Mary of Bethany—pours costly nard on Jesus two days before the Passover. • The disciples grumble about waste, yet Jesus calls her act “beautiful” (Mark 14:6) and immortalizes it (Mark 14:9). A Costly, Timely Act • The perfume’s value equaled a year’s wages, showing total surrender of material security. • The moment was fleeting; Jesus would soon be crucified. Mary seized the unique opportunity others missed. • Her priority: honor Jesus above all other good causes (Mark 14:7). Priorities Exposed • Kingdom above comfort—Mary’s sacrifice contrasts the disciples’ fixation on money. • Presence above projects—she values Jesus Himself more than any ministry plan. • Worship above worry—the perfume poured out silences anxiety about tomorrow. Scripture Echoes • 2 Samuel 24:24: “I will not offer to the LORD … that which costs me nothing.” • Luke 10:42: “Mary has chosen the good portion.” • Romans 12:1: “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices.” • Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God.” • Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work … for the Lord.” Heart-Level Application • Jesus measures service by devotion, not efficiency. • The simplest obedience—“she has done what she could”—pleases Him more than grand but half-hearted schemes. • Genuine love willingly embraces misunderstanding and criticism. • True discipleship discerns the moment God places before us and acts before it passes. Practical Steps to Reordered Priorities 1. Inventory resources—time, skills, finances—then intentionally set the first and best for Christ’s use. 2. Build margin for unplanned acts of devotion, allowing God to interrupt schedules. 3. Practice generosity that feels extravagant, reflecting the value of the One served. 4. Guard daily communion with Christ so activity flows from intimacy, not obligation. 5. Revisit motives often, aligning them with “for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23). Aroma That Lasts Mary’s fragrance filled the room, and her story now spans the globe. When service springs from wholehearted love, its scent endures far beyond the moment and challenges every believer to lay aside lesser priorities for the surpassing worth of Jesus. |
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