I wanted to write something today about my bible study in Mark this morning and was plagued with doubts about it. I was unable to see how to apply this passage at the moment to my own life. Do you ever feel such doubts? I think that they are the small nagging attacks of Satan, trying to keep me from doing something for the Lord. After reading a chapter in a book titled Gold Cord by Amy Carmichael, I am doubly sure that’s exactly what it was, his nagging attacks. She wrote, “He needs that precious thing which is wasted now, like the treasure of seed not sown, but only stored.” (Gold Cord, pg 29)
Mark 14:7-10
“For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”
The woman that came to Jesus and anointed Him with costly perfume will be remembered for her loving sacrifice. Contrast this with what Judas Iscariot will be remembered for.
“Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them.” vs. 10
One is remembered for love, the other for betrayal. The woman’s name is not given in Mark, but she is identified as Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus in John 12:3. Matthew, Mark and John speak of her coming and anointing Him with oil. In Luke 7:37 there is a story of another woman. She came to Him, a sinner, crying, weeping at His feet. She was weeping and washing Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped the tears from His feet with her hair. The Pharisee looked on with contempt at this broken woman at Her Lord’s feet. He thought his prideful thoughts, and Jesus rebuked him and taught him the parable of the two debtors.
Judas was one of the twelve disciples. He was seen as a trusted man, part of Jesus’ select group. His sins were not known to everyone yet. Now everyone knows what Judas did to betray Christ, and now everyone also knows what these women did. One is remembered for hate, sin, and betrayal, the others for love, worship, and devotion.
Lord, I pray that I would be remembered for love, not hate. May I come to You, caring not what my reputation is among men, but what You my Lord think of me.
Found, Not Lost 