Mark 27, 2018 Tuesday

“After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.” 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. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? “For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. “For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. “She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. “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.”” (Mark 14:1-9 NKJV)

            I remember on a tour of the Vatican seeing this large chest that was made of solid gold and decorated with scenes of the life and ministry of Jesus.  When I asked the priest who was guiding us how much the chest was worth he said there was not enough money in the world to purchase it!  I remember thinking that if it were sold it could feed so many people.

            Jesus responds that there will always be those who are poor and that need will only be met when Jesus returns to make all right.  But our primary call is to Love God with all we are and then our neighbor!

            Our love and worship of God is the primary part of who we are Christians.  We can lose our need for worship by getting caught up meeting the needs of those hurting around us not realizing we need to depend on God’s help.

            When we try to meet the needs of the poor without first worshiping God we take on a burden we are not meant to have or are able to take on!  The need, pain and suffering around the world is endless and shouldering that burden without God will only break us and turn us bitter!  With that burden we can come to hate the God we forgot to worship and honor!

            Jesus declares that this act of worship will be remembered whenever and wherever the Gospel is preached!  Our worship and love of God is eternal and gives us a perspective of God and His power that does give us the hope that mountains can be moved!

           

            Still a bad time as the pain seems to be all over rather than just one place.  The weariness is terrible.  Got some cards from some people at First Jeff and from Darby House where we were part of the weekly service.  It is so good to be remembered by God’s people.  As I sit here I marvel at the wonder and blessing that God allowed us to be part of His great work over the years.  What a great adventure we have had and are having!