JESUS’ BLOOD OF THE COVENANT, Ron Ward
SHE HAS DONE A BEAUTIFUL THING TO ME
Passage: Mark 14:1~9  
Key verse: 6
Jesus Anointed at Bethany(A)(B)(C)
14 Now the Passover(D) and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.(E) 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”
3 While he was in Bethany,(F) 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.(G)
4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you,[b] and you can help them any time you want.(H) But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.(I) 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world,(J) what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Pharisees' evil scheme (1-2)
The Passover and the feast of Unleavened bread were just two days away. God's enemies were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and to kill him. But God will even use all their evil schemes to fulfill God's plan. Jesus will be the Pascal Lamb and the Unleavened bread from heaven on Passover. Neither Satan nor any smart men can outwit God. God is in control. He is Sovereign even in today's chaotic world.
2. The woman's broken jar and Jesus' broken body (3-9)
A woman's sudden action of breaking an alabaster jar and pouring very expensive perfume on Jesus caused some to rebuke her severely. But Jesus used it to reveal how his body would be broken and his blood would be poured out as the Pascal Lamb for the forgiveness of our sins. Therefore, though we should help the poor always, we must first give thanks to Jesus even breaking our best alabaster jar and pouring our most precious life on Jesus. It is never a waste. Truly such a wholehearted devotion to Jesus would be remembered as the most beautiful thing done throughout history.
Prayer: O Sovereign Lord, let me break my expensive jar and pour myself wholly on you. Still, I know that will be too small compared to what you have done to me!
One Word: Give thanks to Jesus with the most precious things!