She Has Done What She Could

Mark 14:3-5

“...As He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard.  Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.  But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.  And they criticized her sharply.”

What Jesus said next in this dear woman’s defense is what I would love to draw your attention to.  Jesus said in Mark 14:6-7, “Let her alone.  Why do you trouble her?  She has done a good work for Me.  For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.  She has done what she could.  She has come before hand to anoint My body for burial.”

Did you catch that?  Jesus said, “She has done what she could.”  This dear woman, Mary, gave the greatest sacrifice that she could offer along with her heart to honor Jesus.  The Bible tells us that the alabaster flask was worth three hundred denarii which would be around one year’s wages for the average person. But more importantly than the price of the gift, is the heart and motive of the gift.  My Bible commentary says it beautifully, “Jesus wanted people to give freely and of their own volition.  No one can coerce a gift from another; no one should criticize another’s gift; and no one can read the heart of a giver.  A giver’s motive is known only to God.”

Jesus’ heart was touched by her offering NOT because it was worth over one year’s wages, but because it was from her heart.  It touched Jesus so much that He not only defended her but He said these words, “Assuredly, I say to you, whenever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

To this day, thousands of years later, we are reading about her unselfish act.  God made sure that what this woman did would not be forgotten.

May I encourage you today by saying that what you offer to Jesus with a pure heart touches His heart!

When you offer your time to cook a meal for a family in need, you touch Jesus’ heart.

When you offer your time to volunteer in His Name, you touch Jesus’ heart.

When you offer your time to pray for someone, you touch Jesus’ heart.

When you choose to offer your forgiveness to a person who has wronged you, you touch Jesus’ heart.

When you choose to open up the Word of God during your busy days, you touch Jesus’ heart.

She has done what she could - let us do what we can!