Sunday: A Beautiful Work
We are now entering the last days of Jesus’ life on earth. He has yet to go to the cross, has yet to be resurrected, and has yet to reveal Himself fully as the crucified and risen Savior of the world. However much those who followed Jesus loved Him and appreciated Him, they still had so much to learn about who He was and all that He would do for them.
Image © Providence Collection from GoodSalt.com
Looking back, with the writing of the whole Bible, and especially Paul’s powerful explanations of the atoning death of Jesus, we know so much more about what Jesus was going to do for us than His followers did at the time of this story.
With this background in mind, read Matthew 26:1-16. What is the significance of this expensive gift, and what should it teach us about how we should relate to Jesus?
Notice how Matthew places the story of Jesus’ head being anointed (which probably happened prior to the triumphal entry) within the growing plot to kill Him. While some of His own people were planning to do Him harm, this woman poured out unrestrained love and devotion upon Him, with her “alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil” (Matthew 26:7, NKJV).
While the disciples were lamenting the waste, Jesus called what she did “a beautiful” work. By this action, very extravagant outwardly, the woman was revealing the true depth of emotion in her heart toward Jesus. Though she surely didn’t know all that was to come or what it would mean, she understood enough to know that she owed so much to Jesus; and thus, she wanted to give back so much, as well. Perhaps she had heard His words, “‘For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required’” (Luke 12:48, NKJV). Meanwhile the disciples, who had surely seen more of what Jesus had done than had that woman, still missed the point entirely.
“That ointment was a symbol of the overflowing heart of the giver. It was an outward demonstration of a love fed by heavenly streams until it overflowed. And that ointment of Mary, which the disciples called waste, is repeating itself a thousand times in the susceptible hearts of others.”—Ellen G. White, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1101.
| What should this story tell us about how we should be responding to what we have been given in Jesus? Using our free will, what “beautiful” work can we perform for Him in response to what we have been given in Him? |
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To suggest an idea of just how "costly" that oil was.
Judas estimated its value at "more than 300 pence [denarius]". (Mk 14:5.)
And a fair day's wages for a laboring man was then 1 denari. (Matt 20:2.)
So 300+ denarius was very nearly a whole year's wages for a common working man!
I think it is interesting too, that when Jesus spoke in Mary's defense/support, He said to the disciples - "she did it for My burial". (Matt 26:12.) But "Mary did NOT then think of connecting death with her gift of love." (EGW, Review & Herald 1900.) Mary didn't consciously anticipate Jesus' death.
She had been quite a wealthy woman, but I think she probably spent EVERYTHING she had in that single gift of appreciation. But there was the man that looked on, and believed that her touch was defiling, and that her money was "dirty", but Jesus accepted the gift nonetheless. (Lk 7:39.) Some today would call Mary's gift extravagant, or 'too much', but no, to Jesus it was acceptable, and much more than acceptable.
Thank you for your comments, but I've a question: what does the atitude of Mary teach us today! How applicable is it for us nowadays
Loving,,, grateful.. no matter what the cost just to serve Jesus...
It teaches that it is ok to SPLURGE on appropriate occasions/things.
Sure, we could have churches with no carpeting, unpainted plywood walls, tin roofs, and then the money police could be silenced.
We could cancel all birthday, anniversary, mother's day, father's day, Christmas, Easter celebration spending and use the money for outreach.
The money police could even say that the feast days for Israel were a waste of resources.
On the flip side...with USA and other countries in a culture of debt and a celebrity obsessed culture...there definitely is a waste of money on extravagance. I saw one quart bottle of wine at Costco in a protective glass cube ...the price was $500. No I was not looking for booze..I don't drink booze.
Dineria I feel the lesson teaches us to give the Lord our best and wholeheartedly. Many times pledges and offerings are offered as show off not coming from the heart. From the story we see that Mary gave her whole without second thoughts. May the Lord help us to give our all
Mary had come to the point there was nothing in the world that was precious to her as having unconditional love to our Lord Jesus Christ. Mary raised the bar so higher even to the disciples. She had come to a position to say there is nothing between the Savior and I. The sad facts here is that the disciples were followers and they fell behind Judas when he made a comment: "But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii* and given the poor?" 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."- (John 12:4-6).
I love this quote from Ellen G White, on Matt. 26:10-13: Setting Our Priorities: "Many there are who bring their precious gifts for the dead. As they stand about the cold, silent form, words of love are freely spoken... Had these words been spoken when the weary spirit needed them so much. When the ear could hear and the heart could feel, how precious would have been their fragrance!-(DA, 500).
I believe it is fair for us to ask ourselves this question: "Who is number one in your life?" In Matthew 16:15 Jesus said to His disciples, "But who do you say that I AM?" Mary did answer this question "Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of 'Allabaster spikenard anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair, And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil."(John 12:3).
Brothers and sisters, let us give it all to Our Savior Jesus Christ our and do not let anything come in between you and Your God. We need to be anchored in Christ daily. Amen.
Finally Jesus has to go to the cross no other way , he has been rejected by church leaders and here is the woman the harlot without shyness surrendering her sins and wealth to Jesus and full filing the last journey of Jesus ,she only know that he is the only savior who takes away her sins and join the ministry of Jesus.
Our expression of our love for Jesus is reflected in what we do for His cause. however much we do let us do it with a willing heart.
Since Christ has come into my life I am made right with God, given victory over sin,health is better,blessed with a wonderful wife, given a good job ,able to be a positive influence over family and others, house paid off, given the opportunity to become more like Jesus,and so much more . Nothing is too good for Jesus. I can relate to this woman's sentiments.
The love of Mary for Jesus should cause us to reflect on our love for Him and prompt us to find truly meaningful ways to express that love from the heart.
Thank you Stewart.I like the narrative Matthew Jesus is on his way to the cross and he had to pass through the treachery of Judas and the faithfulness of Mary,treachery
and loyalty which one am I? One that sold him out or one that lifted him up?
Mary's expensive gift was an expression of her love for God. She truly appreciate who the Lord was and what He had done in her life. No gift would be too difficult too give. This was a true expression of a dedicated, committed heart.
There is indeed so much in this eternal story of extravagant passion. It impacts me because 1) it highlights the power of a *personal and authentic* heart response, 2) it shows what is important to Jesus in the "scheme of things," or rather, the enormous complexity and wisdom in how he applies value to our behaviors, and 3) shows us that we don't usu. understand how to love each other, much less create space for each other to grow, to fully engage each of our unique journeys with Jesus.
I also noticed this time that *all* the disciples were annoyed with her, not just Judas. Perhaps the Judas comment is in another gospel, but here we are told they all shared the same judgmental and hypocritical attitudes toward this humble sinner saved by grace.
Anyway.
It is our privilege and Journey of a lifetime to walk worthy of a love such as God has for each of us.
On Sunday, Mary's expensive gift was her life savings according to a certain preacher I had so it indeed was a fortune. Mary treasured and appreciated Jesus that much. How much do we appreciate the precious Redeemer? Do we realise that every good thing we have comes with the stamp of Calvary on it?
See the below comment from Desire of Ages:
'Our Lord has said, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.... For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.” John 6:53-55. This is true of our physical nature. To the death of Christ we owe even this earthly life. The bread we eat is the purchase of His broken body. The water we drink is bought by His spilled blood. Never one, saint or sinner, eats his daily food, but he is nourished by the body and the blood of Christ. The cross of Calvary is stamped on every loaf. It is reflected in every water spring. All this Christ has taught in appointing the emblems of His great sacrifice. The light shining from that Communion service in the upper chamber makes sacred the provisions for our daily life. The family board becomes as the table of the Lord, and every meal a sacrament.' {DA 660.3}
the value of the fragrance is significant. It demonstrates that we as Christians need to give ALL to Christ. Nothing is ours. We exist by grace and mercy of the LORD!
First, we must believe that we have been divinely appointed by God to be His representatives on this planet. That must get in our spirit. We must believe that we have been appointed by God to be His Royal Ambassadors to carry on the mission of Jesus Christ. Anything less than that makes us stagnant....
We must love jesus and appreciate him as our personal saviour
As i can see, serving God doesn't depend on how much you're having; it needs only a willing heart.
brethren, Sorry if i will be going out of the topic, but i need help. During studying this week lesson, and during discussion with other fellows, the question of Jesus on the cross emerged, that when Christ died on the cross, what thing actually died; His humanity or divinity.
please help, if possible with vivid references from the bible and spirit of prophecy
Why is this question important?
The Bible tells us that the Person, Jesus Christ, died on the cross. Jesus Christ is a unique person - being God incarnate in humanity. The person Jesus Christ did not exist before His incarnation. One of the persons of the Trinity chose to lower Himself to be incarnate in humanity to become Jesus Christ. He died on the cross.
Going further than that delves into the mystery of the incarnation which we cannot possibly understand, and Ellen White warns us to be *very* careful about trying to explain what is beyond our understanding. (That said, I believe she does answer your question in a way, because God Himself cannot die. Someone else might be able to find the reference.)
I believe that there is enough in the Bible that we can understand that it is best not to focus on what we can not understand. The latter is one of Satan's ways to keep us from living out biblical truth we do understannd.
Inge,
Thanks for reply. The other things are mystery.
But Again,UNIQUENESS of Christ brings some few challenging questions:
1. Who is/was Jesus Christ?
2. When he walked on the streets of Jerusalem, was He God or human
3.there were a time he failed to be - God. Humanity and divinity sometimes separated?
4.God can not die nor born.when that son borned at bethlehem, was he God or just son of man,
At calvary,he ceased to be God?
Not necessarily be answered, just challenges to deep study and pray
Faustine, again, it goes back to the mystery of the incarnation which is beyond our understanding. Seeking to dissect it will only do harm.
Please focus on what you do understand in the Bible, not on what you do not understand, or you will miss out on the most important thing in the universe - salvation itself.
Christ was and is both fully God and fully man all the time. Christ did not exist before the incarnation, but He continues to exist as Christ both now and through eternity. Through Him, humanity is carried into the highest heavens.
"God was IN Christ, reconciling the world to Himself." (2 Cor. 5:19)
read Deuteronomy 29:29 . it'll help u brother
Jesus was a man, born of a woman. He was not immortal, though free of sin. He died as man will die if unrepentant. If Jesus' Divinity died, what would be the point? Also, how could He raise the dead body if His divinity perished? If divinity, which holds all things together perished, all would perish in a moment.
We need only to understand that God accepts this propitiation by the Son of Man for sinners and through repentance, we find eternal life and restoration through the grace of God. What's not to like about this?! God accepts it and so do I!
Faustine,
As Inge has already explained, God has revealed in His Word Truths that you and me
need to have eternal life.
God would not desire us to discuss issues that does not have any salvation benefits. What God has not revealed to us it better left for paradise. It will be made clear when we get there.
For now let us expend our energies for things that can bring salvation to our souls