Tuesday, March 9th, 2021

There are seasons in life of comfort and there are seasons of growth, and that includes our relationship with Jesus. We can all get to the point where we feel a little too comfortable with Jesus — thinking we understand it all and feeling like there is nothing else to learn. Late in Jesus’ life, even the disciples began to feel this way. There’s a revealing interaction between Jesus, what we can assume are his disciples and other followers, and a woman with a very expensive jar of perfume. The Book of Mark says, “While (Jesus) was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Those around Jesus thought they knew what he was all about — helping the poor. They’d seen him do this countless times and preach extensively about it. So, they assumed he would be angry about a “waste” of perfume. Even worse, they judged someone else because her actions didn’t line up with their own understanding. We are all guilty of this from time to time; we rest in our own belief that we know Jesus and understand him fully, and thus, stop pursuing him. In our rest, we can’t help but pass judgement on others who don’t “get it” like we do. A relationship with Jesus is a lifelong pursuit. When we begin to feel comfortable, we will be challenged in new ways. Today, if you have been resting in your faith for too long, begin your pursuit of Jesus again.

“While (Jesus) was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 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 14:3-9 NIV