Christ as Servant: A Study in MarkSample

What does it say?

A woman poured expensive perfume on Jesus as an act of worship. At the Passover meal, Jesus predicted His betrayal. Later, He prayed and submitted to the Father’s will.

What does it mean?

The woman in Bethany didn’t hesitate to give generously in honor of the Lord Jesus. In contrast, Judas seems to give little or no thought to his betrayal, even after following Jesus and listening to His teaching for three years. The actions of each person reflected what was happening in their hearts. The woman acted out of adoration for Christ, while Judas was overtaken by greed. Her actions are remembered as a beautiful picture of sacrificial worship poured on the One who would pay the price for her sin and for the sin of the world – the Lord Jesus Christ.

How should I respond?

You can’t keep what’s in your heart hidden for long; your inmost desires will show up in how you live. For instance, if your desire is to accumulate wealth, you may let greed determine your actions, but if your priority is to honor Christ, you’ll surrender your will to Him and sacrifice in ways that may not make sense to others. It might mean sacrificially giving to a friend in need or freely forgiving an enemy. Ask God to reveal ways that you can draw closer to Him today and then show the resulting adoration for Him by being obedient to what He reveals.