IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Jesus is Anointed at Bethany

Date: Apr. 9, 2017

Passage

Mark 14:1-21  (ESV)

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, for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.”

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. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 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. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 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.”

10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” 20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 14:9

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.”

1. Jesus was anointed for burial (1-11)

Was it a little too much? Mary didn't just dabble a little perfume on Jesus. She broke an expensive flask and lavishly poured every last drop of its precious contents on Jesus. Some thought her actions were wasteful, but Mary was different. She had sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to him. She knew his heart, his humility, and his wisdom. She had tasted both his humanity and his divinity. When the Lord called her brother Lazarus from the grave, she personally experienced the power of God and the freedom that Jesus brings. Mary believed Jesus' words. So when she heard him speak of his own death she accepted it and sacrificially offered her love and worship by doing whatever she could. Jesus accepts such acts of worship and folds them into the wonderful history of his gospel.

2. The fate of the betrayer (12-21)

During the Passover meal, Jesus announced that one of his disciples would betray him. The disciples wondered who it could be. From the outside, Judas seemed like everyone else, but Jesus knew what was in his heart. Judas valued money more than the grace Jesus offered him. Such rejection has eternal consequences. Jesus said that it would have been better if he had never been born.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we offer our hearts and lives to you.

One Word: What she has done will also be told.

Daily Bread

The Lamb Will Triumph

Revelation 17:1-18

Key Verse: 17:14

They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

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