A Beautiful Business

Mark 14:1-11 (KJV) 

"1 After two days was [the feast of] the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put [him] to death. 2 But they said, Not on the feast [day], lest there be an uproar of the people. 3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured [it] on his head. 4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, [this] also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. 10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. 11 And when they heard [it], they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him."

(Emphasis mine)

IMPRESSING GOD?

This woman in the story above caught the attention of Jesus. The Creator of the universe, eternal, all-powerful, and all-knowing, takes notice of one woman's act. Think about that for a moment. Can such a being even be impressed? Look at the following examples.

Matthew 8:5-10 (KJV) 

"5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this [man], Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [it]. 10 When Jesus heard [it], he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." (Emphasis mine)

Mark 12:41-44 (KJV) 

"41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called [unto him] his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all [they] did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, [even] all her living." (Emphasis mine)

Like the woman with the alabaster box, both individuals in the above scriptures made an impression on Jesus. The gentile centurion stood out for his unusual faith—the widow for her sacrificial giving. 

In Mark chapter 13, verses 1 and 2, the disciples thought that Jesus would be impressed with the Temple and surrounding buildings. Obviously, He was not. He told them that what they were impressed with was only temporary, bringing us back to Mark chapter 14. 

The woman came to worship in a way that everyone else in the room was uncomfortable with. But Jesus highlights and even defends her actions as something eternal. He said her story would be told worldwide whenever the gospel was preached. 

A BEAUTIFUL BUSINESS

Let's get specific. The words used in the KJV are "a good work." Good here means beautiful or precious, whereas work means business or deed. Jesus is literally saying that she has a beautiful business! I LOVE THAT! She had a purpose beyond even her understanding. She had business to accomplish and didn't care what the cost was. To Jesus, this is beautiful, and it's what impresses Him. When we are consumed by serving The Lord and fulfilling His will, He notices. 

A SACRIFICIAL ACT

Scripture tells us that her ointment was very precious. Meaning it was expensive. There's a good chance that this box was passed to her by family members as an important heirloom. It would cost her a great deal, but this was her moment, and this was the time! 

2 Samuel 24:24-25 (KJV) 

"24 ...I will surely buy [it] of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated...." (Emphasis Mine)

True worship must cost something. If worship is worth-ship, we ascribe worth to something or someone through our actions. Some in the room that day accused her of wasting this expensive perfume. How degrading to Jesus! Is anything ever wasted when given to The Lord? 

On the contrary, to keep it bottled up is wasting it. How can the perfume ever be enjoyed if it remains sealed in the container? How can you and I ever be useful to God if we never step out in faith to serve Him?

A TIMELY MOVE

Jesus gives us an interesting view of this woman's actions. He said that she had come to anoint His body for burial. For burial? What could He possibly have meant by this? 

He had shared with a select few that He was going to die. Most, including Peter, didn't understand and even tried to resist the whole idea. Somehow, by this sacrificial act, this woman was participating in the eternal plan of redemption. I'm not sure how she knew, but she knew. 

Mark chapter 16 and Luke chapter 24 tell us several went to Jesus' tomb to anoint His body, a customary practice. There was only one problem - they were too late! Jesus' body was gone! He wasn't in the grave any longer. He was alive! 

The woman with the alabaster box might have been the only one who knew what Jesus had come to accomplish. When she felt compelled to act, she wasted no time. Had she waited, the opportunity would've been gone. 

Hebrews 3:15 (KJV) 

"While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation."

What beautiful business is The Lord calling you to? 

What are you "wasting" by not using it to glorify Him?

Mark 14:6-9 (KJV) 

"6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, [this] also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her." (Emphasis mine)

She worked a good work.

She did what she could.

Do what you can for Jesus, and he'll take care of what you cannot do.