A Beautiful Thing to Jesus

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

A Beautiful Thing to Jesus

Date: Jul. 3, 2022

Passage

Mark 14:1-11 (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.”

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.

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.

Jesus’ final days before his crucifixion were at hand. Instead of preparing the Passover, the Jewish leaders were scheming against Jesus. But there was another person planning something. Simon the Leper had invited Jesus to a meal at his house in Bethany. While Jesus was reclining, a woman came and poured very expensive perfume on his head: breaking the jar, saving none of it. She said nothing; her act told everything of her love and devotion to Jesus. Jesus was everything to her.

Some of those present smelled the perfume and saw it as a waste. They didn’t see Jesus as the woman did. They also didn’t see the woman as Jesus saw her. Her act meant so much to Jesus. He defended her, calling her act a beautiful thing. Jesus exposed their logical failing: they could help the poor anytime but did not. Only this woman expressed love for Jesus. Her act foreshadows Jesus’ own impending death, where he poured out his blood, lavishly loving sinners like you and me.

This nameless woman’s story is a positive example while Judas’ story is one of distrust and betrayal. Both are included in the gospel narrative, like roads before us. Whose path will we follow? Let’s do a beautiful thing for Jesus today.

Prayer: Prayer: Father, thank you for your lavish love for me through Jesus. Help me value Jesus and creatively express my love for him today.

One Word: One Word: Remember the beauty of Jesus.

Hezekiah Restored the Temple

2 Chronicles 29:1-19

Key Verse: 29:18

Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils.

Today's Question

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