Jesus + Nothingنموونە

JESUS + NOTHING = EVERYTHING

When the woman breaks this alabaster jar at the feet of Jesus, it isn’t just a random gesture. The imagery of this moment would not have been lost on anyone in that room. This alabaster jar and its contents carried great significance.

In the first century, the size of the jar and the perfume would have been a reflection of the family's wealth. When a man asked a woman to marry him, her “yes” would have come in the form of her breaking the jar at his feet. This is how a woman would show her honor and commitment to the man to whom she was committing the rest of her life.

So when this immoral woman breaks her jar at the feet of Jesus, she is making a bold statement. She is saying, all that I am is yours. I commit myself to you completely. She is saying, “My life is yours. My future is yours. You are my plan A, and I have no plan B.” Have you approached Jesus with that same heart?

People today are often happy to accept Jesus as long as it is Jesus + something. For some, the equation is Jesus + wealth. In other words, I will follow Jesus only if he blesses me financially. For others, it is Jesus + opportunity. Is Jesus only enough if he provides an opportunity for promotion and influence? Or is Jesus enough all by himself? And still for others, it is Jesus + a spouse. “I will follow you, Jesus, as long as you give me a spouse, but if you don’t, I will find one on my own, and they can be enough.”

This equation is different for everyone, but if Jesus + ________ is your equation, what fills in the blank? Is Jesus enough all by himself? Because the message of the gospel is quite simple: Jesus + Nothing = Everything.

If there is anything you are still holding onto, perhaps today is the day you can fully commit yourself to him, knowing that HE IS ENOUGH! When this woman first encountered Jesus, she was known as the immoral woman, but after this encounter, she is now known as forgiven, a worshiper, and a follower of Jesus. Jesus took all that she was and gave her all of himself. And he does the same thing for us today when we approach him with this same heart of faith and fidelity.

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