“She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.” (Mark 14:8 NIV)
When we do what we can, Jesus rewards our efforts. Today’s verse comes from a story told by Mark. In six days time, Jesus will be crucified. He’s having dinner at Simon the Leper’s house when a sin filled woman walks in with an alabaster jar full of expensive perfume. In other words, in walked any one of us, as we are all sin filled. This perfume would be equivalent to about a year’s worth of working wages. Those in the room with Jesus are up in arms that she is wasting the money on Jesus’ feet. But Jesus silences them with today’s verse. This woman is the only one who understands what is about to happen, she is offering Jesus her best sacrifice to prepare him for his burial. And Jesus rewards her for doing what she can:
“Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Mark 14:9 NIV)
When we do what we can, Jesus rewards our efforts.
Each day, we have a fresh opportunity to do what we can. God’s mercies are new every morning:
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations, 3:22-23 NIV).
I have a morning routine. I roll out of bed, read my Bible and journal my prayers. Each morning I give my life to Jesus again, fresh. I ask for forgiveness for the sins of yesterday, guidance and direction for the day ahead, and His blessing and favor to be on our lives. Every morning, I have something to repent. Every day, God purifies me in some way, just a little bit more than the day before. Each day, He is molding me into who He created me to be in this life. His will is clear to me, His message simple. Do what you can, He’ll do the rest.
That’s what Jesus did for the sinful woman. She did what she could, Jesus did the rest. Jesus took her sins upon Himself. He picked up the cross and finished it once and for all. He did it for her, He did it for us. All He asks is that we do what we can. When we see someone in need, help them. When we can offer a kind word, do it. When we can ease someone’s burden, ease it. Jesus isn’t asking us to save the world, He already did that. All He is asking us to do is what we can.
Question of the Day:
What can you do for Jesus today?
Further Reading: Numbers 10:1-11:23 NIV,Mark 14:1-21 NIV, Psalm 51:1-19 NIV, Proverbs 10:31-32 NIV
