2 minute read.
Daily Reading: Numbers 10:1-11:23 ESV, Mark 14:1-21 ESV, Psalm 51:1-19 ESV, Proverbs 10:31-32 ESV
Daily Verse: “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.” (Mark 14:3 ESV)
ALABASTRON (211): “The name of a stone; prop. An ‘alabaster’ box, i.e., a perfume vase (of any material).”[I]
Perfumed preparation.
Unnamed, our heroine today came with ointments preparing Jesus for His death. Soon after Jesus reclined at the table, receiving the precious gift from the woman, Judas betrays Him to the chief priests. Before long, our Savior will hang on the cross, His body already anointed for burial.
Whatever happens today prepares us for tomorrow. Each day, God grooms us for the journey that lies ahead. A baby changes more than any other time in year one. Baby’s weight triples in the first twelve months as they learn to maneuver their bodies to sit, stand, and walk. Every day, infants acquire something new for the next part of their journey.
Accept the prep.
God doesn’t waste anything. Wherever life finds you, God uses it to help you grow.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 ESV)
Jesus knew as the woman poured the ointment on His head what her actions meant. Understanding her anointing prepared Him for death, Jesus accepted His fate. We may not know why things happen the way they do, but we can trust God does. Whatever the circumstances, God has a plan for them. Nothing gets wasted with God.
Eventually, we will reach the end of our journey here on earth, but in the meantime, God’s preparing us for our eternal home. The lessons we learn in life will move with us into eternity. We will leave our possessions behind, but our character goes with us.
[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 13) Thomas Nelson
