SHE HAS DONE WHAT SHE COULD
Text: John 12:1-8; Mark 14:3-9.
Delivered on: March 23, 2008. Streetsboro.
John 12:1-8. Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4 Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, 5 "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."
Mark 14:3-9 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply. 6 But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."
THE ACCOUNT.
Jesus’ popularity was at an all-time high.
He had just performed an amazing miracle.
He had raised a man from the dead who had been dead for four days.
Jesus and Lazarus were two very popular men at this time.
However, this popularity made the religious leaders of the day even more nervous. John 11:53. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.
As a result, Jesus was a little more cautious with his appearances. John 11:54. Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.
Jesus comes to Bethany.
Bethany was a small town two miles southeast of Jerusalem.
It was the home of Lazarus, Mary, Martha, and Simon the leper.
They prepare a supper for Jesus and Martha does the serving.
Mary anoints Jesus with a precious oil.
We are told in John’s account that Mary had some ointment in an alabaster flask.
The oil is called spikenard.
It comes from a plant in India that grows in the Himalayas.
It is simply used as a perfume.
It is very costly. 300 denarii was about a year’s wage for a common worker.
Matthew and Mark say that Mary anointed Jesus’ head, and John says that she put it on his feet.
She did both.
The fact that she anointed his feet and used her hair as a towel was a demonstration of her devotion and love for Christ.
John points out that Judas was indignant. The other two accounts seem to imply that at least some of the other disciples agreed with him.
Jesus defends Mary’s actions.
MARY GAVE.
This is significant.
There are givers and takers in this world.
Mary was a giver.
In “Christianity” (I use the term loosely) today we have a lot of takers and few givers.
People seem to be more interested in what Christianity can do for them than in what they can do for Christ.
They come to worship not to praise and glorify God but to be entertained. 2 Timothy 4:3-4. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
Some members of the Lord’s church act as if God should be thankful to have them.
They don’t give of their time.
They don’t give of their finances.
And that is because they haven’t given themselves to God.
2 Corinthians 8:5. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
They view the church as an entity that needs to pamper to their needs and desires or else they will leave.
We all need to be givers.
Givers of our time.
Givers of our money.
Givers of ourselves.
We must do it out of love and thankfulness for God. 1 John 4:19. We love Him because He first loved us.
We must do it out of love for each other.
1 John 4:20-21. If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
1 Peter 1:22. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
MARY DID WHAT SHE COULD.
Jesus said that Mary was doing all that she could. Mark 14:8. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.
God only expects us to do what we can.
The men in the parable of the talents were given according to their abilities. Matthew 25:15. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
Ephesians 6:13. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
He doesn’t expect us to:
Convert every person we know. But he wants us to try.
Memorize the whole Bible. Just Philippians!
Be able to answer every single doctrinal question. But to be ready to give a defense of the hope that is in us. 1 Peter 3:15. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
Be world class Bible teachers. Just to do our best.
If there is one thing that parable of the talents shows us it is that God expects us to do what we can.
MARY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF HER OPPORTUNITIES.
Mary would never have another opportunity to show her love for Christ in such a way. She seized upon that opportunity.
How often do we let opportunities to do good pass us by?
We must take the opportunities given to us.
We are often given opportunities to teach our children.
We are given opportunities to talk to our friends and neighbors about the church.
We are given opportunities to do good for others.
We are given opportunities to help the church.
Ephesians 5:15-16. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
MARY LOVED THE LORD!
Mary did what she did out of love for the Lord.
Judas’ complaint was NOT out of love for the poor. We are told why he complained. Greed.
Mary wanted to honor the Lord in any way that she could.
In doing so, the Lord praised her.
The poor do not suffer because others lack the money to help them. They suffer because others lack the love to help them.
That is why Mary’s actions are so commendable.
She teaches us that love does what it can regardless of the cost or inconvenience.
If the disciples (then and now) learned this, it would benefit the poor far more than the money which could have been given as a result of the sale of the oil.
Do we love the Lord?
Conclusion.
Just as the Lord predicted, we are still talking about Mary today.
Because of her love.
Do we really love the Lord?
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