Jesus Anointed for Burial

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Jesus Anointed for Burial

Date: Jul. 24, 2016

Passage

Mark 14:1-9 (ESV)

1 It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, 2 for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.”

3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 14:8

She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial.

First, the plot to arrest Jesus (1,2). Jesus time was near. Two days before the Passover, the religious leaders plotted how they might arrest Jesus and be rid of him. But they were afraid of the people. They were double minded. They wanted to be rid of Jesus, but they also were afraid of the people. So, they would not arrest him during the Feast.

Second, a beautiful thing (3-9). Jesus was in Bethany, just outside Jerusalem. While reclining at the table, a woman came and poured expensive perfume on Jesus' head. The woman was rebuked. The perfume could have been sold and used to help the poor. But Jesus saw differently. He saw this as a beautiful thing. This woman loved Jesus dearly. Her expensive perfume meant nothing to her, next to Jesus. She wanted to do something for Jesus. So she anointed Jesus body with her most treasured possession.

Prayer: Lord, we want to do something for Jesus. Help us to give our most treasured possession, our hearts, to Jesus.

One Word: Do a beautiful thing for Jesus

God’s Plan for Rebekah’s Twin Sons

Genesis 25:19-34

Key Verse: 25:23

And the LORD said to her,

  “Two nations are in your womb,
    and two peoples from within you shall be divided;
  the one shall be stronger than the other,
    the older shall serve the younger.”

Today's Question

What does the third commandment require?

See answer and references