Overflowing Gratitude

While He was at Bethany at the house of Simon who had a serious skin disease, and as He was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of pure and expensive fragrant oil of nard. She broke the jar and poured it on His head. But some were expressing indignation to one another: "Why has this fragrant oil been wasted? For the oil might have been sold for more than 30 denarii and given to the poor." And they began to scold her.

Then Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? You always have the poor with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; she has anointed My body in advance for burial. I assure you: whenever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the. Huey priests to hand Him over to them. And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him silver. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him. Mark 14:3-11

This shows the carnality of some disciples, especially Judas. Jesus did not come to fulfil men's agenda, but Gods. When I read how the disciples reacted, not seeing with eyes of the spirit, I am sad for them and us who would have done likewise. How sad to put the value of oil above the value of Jesus.

Yes, what the woman did was impulsive, emotional and not logical. Jesus has had a great effect on her heart. Perhaps she was forgiven much and was so grateful. The disciples had not been through such an experience. Perhaps Matthew, who had been a tax collector, might have had a little bit of understanding but certainly not Judas.

Judas shows he was pure carnality. It was all about what he thought should happen. He had had enough of this man who did not perform to what he expected. He was over Jesus, he was offended to the max.

For the woman, she is still remembered, just as Jesus said. We can be grateful that Jesus acknowledges such free abandon in gratitude. This is what we need before Him. Amen!