Mark: Living the Way of Jesus in the WorldSample

First Thought 

Passover was two days away and Jesus was at dinner. It was a tense time. Passover celebrated the exodus, liberation from oppressors, and here they were, a nation living under Roman occupation. Either side of chapter 13 is a story of a woman’s extravagance. In chapter 12, the poor widow gave all she had to the temple. In today’s passage, a wealthier woman lavished expensive perfume on Jesus, garnering rebuke from those present. Interpreting the woman’s act as an anointing for His burial, Jesus draws attention away from the criticism directed at her and towards the events that were about to unfold. In one sense, both the temple and Jesus would be ‘destroyed’, one razed and the other killed. Yet Jesus would be raised from the dead and the temple rebuilt as God’s new community around Jesus. In that moment, neither woman would have known this, but each sensed there are moments for extraordinary acts of devotion that delight the heart of God. 

What Does the Bible Say?

At the Last Supper, Jesus declared that one of them would betray Him, Peter would deny Him, and they would all abandon Him. How might the women’s devotion have encouraged Him at that time? 

Living it Out

In what way might you have the opportunity to express your devotion to God in your everyday life right now? 

Responding in Prayer

Compassionate God, help me express my devotion to you in my context right now (…). Amen.