How can we honor Jesus today as the woman did in Mark 14:9? A moment recorded for all time “Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” (Mark 14:9) What the woman’s act shows us • Whole-hearted devotion that ignores cost • Immediate obedience to a Spirit-prompted opportunity • A public, fragrant testimony that points every eye to Jesus, not to herself • An offering given before anyone else thought to give it—honoring Him while He could still receive it Honoring Jesus with our hearts • Daily adoration: linger at His feet in Scripture and worship (Luke 10:39) • Swift obedience: respond at once when the Spirit nudges, instead of waiting for “a better time” (John 14:15) • Undivided affection: guard the first love that belongs to Christ alone (Revelation 2:4) Honoring Jesus with our resources • Sacrificial generosity: pour out treasures, time, and talents for His kingdom, just as she poured the perfume (2 Samuel 24:24; Hebrews 13:16) • Stewardship that prioritizes eternal impact over earthly gain (Matthew 6:19-21) • Supporting gospel proclamation so the story of Jesus is carried “in all the world” (Philippians 4:16-18) Honoring Jesus with our witness • Speak of what He has done—let His saving work be “told in memory” of Him whenever we share the gospel (Acts 1:8) • Live a life whose fragrance points people to Him: “For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:15) • Stand firm even if others criticize, as some scolded the woman; the Lord’s approval outweighs theirs (Galatians 1:10) Honoring Jesus through loving service • Serve the forgotten and marginalized, for “whatever you did for one of the least of these… you did for Me” (Matthew 25:40) • Use hospitality to wash the feet of fellow believers (1 Peter 4:9-10) • Meet practical needs with gospel-centered compassion (James 2:15-17) Honoring Jesus in daily obedience • Present our bodies “as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1) • Keep short accounts with sin so the vessel that carries His fragrance remains pure (1 John 1:9) • Persevere in faithfulness, trusting He sees every hidden act of devotion (Hebrews 6:10) Let the fragrance spread As the perfume filled the house in Bethany, so lives yielded to Jesus fill homes, workplaces, and communities with the aroma of Christ. Pour out what is precious today; the sweetness will reach far beyond the moment and honor Him until He comes. |
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