Love’s Labor

Love’s Labor

And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 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.  But Jesus said, “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 beforehand to anoint My body for burial.  Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Mark 14:3-9

It is the oft-repeated story of love’s labor.  She was a woman, unnamed by Mark, who came into Simon’s house with the alabaster flask in hand.  John identifies her as Mary.  All three evangelists (Matthew was the other one) record her sacrifice.  She is the archetypal, wholehearted, self-sacrificing, pure-hearted disciple of Christ.  She lavished upon Christ the most expensive gift and with the glory she wore upon her head she wiped His feet.  It was the evidence of her great love for Christ.  Here was one whose sole aim was to honor her Beloved.  Those who thus love Christ will want to honor Him.  Like Mary they will gladly take the most expensive gifts which they can possibly procure and lavish them upon the Master.  How have you loved Christ?

The critics were not long in coming forward against her.  Those with little or no love for Christ will never take long in coming to the forefront to criticize those who seek to honor Him.  John revealed that it was Judas, the thief and betrayer, who led the assault.  Sadly, it was the other disciples, whose own love was to shortly show itself to be very weak, who joined the base traitor in his criticism.  Those who are about the business of honoring Christ will never lack for critics, who will tell clearly how a thing ought not to be done while doing nothing themselves.  Are you a Christ-honorer or a critic?

Thankfully, Christ defended the actions of this lovely woman.  He owned her action, her sense, and her motives.  He recognized the depth of her sacrifice, ‘she has done what she could.’  More than this, He promised that to every succeeding generation in which the gospel would go forth over the whole earth that this story would stand as her memorial.

We should be so remembered!  We cannot do everything, but we can do something out of love for Christ.  What we can do, let us do, and do quickly.  Today will soon disappear.   Tomorrow will be too late.

Our Lord and Savior,

we pray that we today

will honor Thee

with what we can do.

Where the Bush is Burning

Tomm Tice