“Mark 4vv3-9”
There is a lot happening in this story – and there is a lens through which we can view this story.
That lens is verse 8 – “She did what she could.”
Looking through this lens – we can see at least 3 things.
First - we see that it is a story about people’s image of God.
Jesus is at the table and this woman pours the perfume over Jesus’ head.
This woman doesn’t hold back.
It was an expensive and extravagant act.
And immediately there is an angry response; “What a waste!”
And they turn on the woman.
But Jesus turns on them and tells them to leave her alone.
And His statement puts a totally different light on it.
They said “what a waste!”; Jesus said “She did what she could”.
That statement is a striking contrast to “what a waste”!
“She did what she could” has the apparent sense that “it wasn’t enough”.
Instead of recoiling at an apparent extravagance; there is the sense that more could have been done.
It really depends – I guess – on your image of Christ.
Two types of people were at that meal that day. Two opinions of Christ.
The majority were measured and stingy towards Him.
One, at least, couldn’t do enough for Him.
Perfume that cost a year’s wages is poured over Him – which was it?
A waste?
Or not enough?
The last verse of “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” says:
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my life, my soul, my all
Romans 11:33-36 says
"O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen."
What do you think?
Was it a waste?
Or not enough?
Really depends on your image of Christ.
Could the perfume had been sold and the money given to the poor? No doubt! But any sense of goodwill and love; any noble intentions in that regard were drowned out by the anger there that day.
Such a suggestion, on this occasion anyway, was a Christ less act.
The suggestion that day was despite Jesus. They separated that act of service to the poor from the God Who was present with them.
Give to the poor? Looks good. Sounds good.
But it was presented as an alternative to devotion of Jesus.
It was a way of holding back.
Which was it?
A waste or not enough?
An immediate and instinctive answer comes quickly. Until maybe, we consider the extent and expression of my devotion today.
I wonder how much that miserly image of God gets in the way. Whether the angry voices of those who hold to that image of God are external or rise up from within your own heart.
I wonder if those voices influence and hold you back from doing what – in your heart – you are compelled to do for Christ.
Regardless of how it appears to others.
What are the angry and scornful voices who are shouting you down and trying to stop you in my service of Christ?
…and why do you listen to them so much?
Question – what have you stopped doing for Christ because you have been silenced by anger and scorn?
What do you hold in your heart; what call is on your life that is not being lived out because you have been swayed by voices who hold to a measured and stingy image of God and who have crushed you?
How many calls upon a person’s life, yours, have been aborted because someone has told you that for you to serve God in whatever way would be a “waste” of your talents and the opportunities that could be yours?
Albert Schweitzer the great missionary and theologian had three Phd’s – and he dedicated his life to God. I’m sure there would had been many who would have considered that a “waste”.
What about Eric Liddell? Was his life a waste?
Looking at this story through the lens of “she did what she could” we see a second thing.
We see God’s pleasure.
Jesus’ saying “She did what she could” is an affirmation; not a complaint.
He says that she had performed “a good service for Me”; “she has done a beautiful thing”.
Here’s the thing though. Would you take “you did what you could” as a compliment?
Insofar as serving God – I think many people wouldn’t.
Yet this is precisely what God would say do them.
“You did what you could” meaning you had performed a good service for Christ.
But to you – the statement “you did what you could” is filtered through the grid of “but I could have prayed more; given more; believed more; hoped more; loved more; served more…more, more, more, more!!”
Funny isn’t it.
We rejoice at the Good News of Jesus Christ. Of how God has gifted us salvation, life and hope without us needing to do anything, work at anything.
And then we fall into a “bad news” existence of guilt and frenetic activity of trying to work our way to heaven as it were.
“You did what you could” says God.
And we answer – “I’m sorry about that! Forgive me Lord!”
God says – “What I mean is that you performed a good service for Me.”
And we say – “I hear You Lord. I know. I ought to have given it to the poor. I ought to have prayed more, given more, believed more, hoped more, loved more…more, more, more. Forgive me Lord!”
“Bad news” after the “good news.” Good News about grace and then bad news that we never seem to measure up.
And there is no rest, no peace, no joy. No pleasure is serving Christ.
“You did what you could”.
Some years ago I had occasion to attend a conference here in Auckland and the minister of the largest Presbyterian Church in NZ was staying in Papakura for the duration of the course and so I’d pick him up each day for the conference.
He spoke about the ethos and standard that they had been advocating at their church in terms of ministry and worship services and the like.
For a time the call was for “excellence”.
But over time they discovered something. People were dropping away and backing off from serving.
The call for excellence was intimidating, counter-productive, and shutting people down.
They changed their motto from “excellence” to “doing our best”.
I guess Jesus would say “doing what you could”.
It is not a sell-out or a call to mediocrity.
It is actually a humble and realistic response to an all-powerful and perfect God.
Doing what you can, with all your heart – that is excellent. Even if by others’ standards it is not polished, or seems misdirected and an extravagant and spectacular waste!
Can you allow for the possibility that your offering – that you did what you could – has attracted the pleasure of God?
The third thing that can be seen through the lens of “she did what she could” – we see a life living the Gospel.
Jesus says of this woman the act that she performed – “"Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”" (Mark 14:9)
I’ve always taken this promise of Jesus as a nice touch and little else.
Here you have this woman who was reviled and rebuked for an apparent reckless act of devotion – and Jesus commends her and sides with her and to compensate for the pain she has experienced will ensure that her story is told.
Basically as an add-on to the Gospel. To the story of Jesus.
A quirky footnote.
That’s what I thought.
Until a few days ago. And then it struck me.
Her act; her doing “what she could” is no footnote to the Gospel.
The reason this incident will be told whenever the Good News is preached in the whole world; the reason what she did will be told in remembrance of her – is because what she did was the Gospel!!
She embodied it!
She understood it!
She got it!
This is not a quaint story included in Mark’s Gospel to add some colour and a bit of a feel-good factor.
This story is part of the account of Jesus last hours before He suffered and died.
In the midst of scheming, betrayal, anguish, darkness and evil – there is this moment of light and love.
A person who believed in Jesus serving Him.
“Christ” as a name means “anointed one”. As as the King of Kings – Jesus the Christ was never anointed as was the custom for Hebrew kings.
Never anointed?
This incident is the only time He was anointed.
And Jesus associates it her act with the Cross.
“She did what she could”.
He identified with Jesus in His death. She had fellowship with Him in His suffering.
In that moment – she alone seemed closest to understanding Jesus’ mission and what it meant.
May not have had a full blown understanding; or even understood the full significance of what she had done – but she was moved by something.
She did a beautiful thing.
Whenever the Gospel is preached in the whole world – she will be remembered as someone who identified with Christ in His suffering and death.
Someone – who despite the anger, derision, scorn of others – honoured Christ and demonstrated love and dedication for Him.
Her actions could not match or compare to the enormity of the task before Jesus.
To many it seemed a waste and pointless and unwise.
In comparison to the love and exploits of God – it may seem insignificant.
Foolish and weak – words used to describe the Cross.
She is remembered for this service of Christ because in humility she ministered to her Saviour.
…as she could.
How do you anoint Christ?
How do you identify with His death and resurrection?
It is a humble existence and not especially spectatular more often than note.
Prone to being misread and misconstrued.
Yet at the heart of such a life is love and light.
Presented By: Rev. Geoff New