She Has Done a Beautiful Thing to Me

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

She Has Done a Beautiful Thing to Me

Date: Jul. 10, 2019

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.”

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 14:6

But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

1. Pharisees' evil scheme (1-2)

The Passover and the feast of Unleavened bread were just two days away. God's enemies were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and to kill him. But God will even use all their evil schemes to fulfill God's plan. Jesus will be the Pascal Lamb and the Unleavened bread from heaven on Passover. Neither Satan nor any smart men can outwit God. God is in control. He is Sovereign even in today's chaotic world.

2. The woman's broken jar and Jesus' broken body (3-9)

A woman's sudden action of breaking an alabaster jar and pouring very expensive perfume on Jesus caused some to rebuke her severely. But Jesus used it to reveal how his body would be broken and his blood would be poured out as the Pascal Lamb for the forgiveness of our sins. Therefore, though we should help the poor always, we must first give thanks to Jesus even breaking our best alabaster jar and pouring our most precious life on Jesus. It is never a waste. Truly such a wholehearted devotion to Jesus would be remembered as the most beautiful thing done throughout history.

Prayer: Prayer: O Sovereign Lord, let me break my expensive jar and pour myself wholly on you. Still, I know that will be too small compared to what you have done to me!

One Word: Give thanks to Jesus with the most precious things!

Plagues of Frogs and Gnats

Exodus 8:1-19

Key Verse: 8:19

Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

Today's Question

What are we specifically taught in the first commandment by the words before me?

See answer and references