Mark 14:1-9 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread… I. THE SACRIFICE OF LOVE. Observe — 1. What Mary gave. The alabastron of precious and perfumed ointment. Rare and costly. Love does not measure its offering by a bare utility; nor by a legal claim. 2. What Mary did. Anointed with this precious ointment. Things worthy of our highest uses are honoured when used in the lowliest uses of religion. What is worthy of our head, honoured by being laid at the Master's feet. II. THE REBUKE OF COVETOUSNESS. Judas's criticism. 1. Waste! because his plan was not adopted. He thought not of the good that was done, but of what might have been done. 2. He had an excuse. The poor! He was one of those who are always "looking at home;" who do so with shut eyes; who see little, and do less. III. THE ARGUMENT OF WISDOM. 1. I shall not be here long. Jesus is not long — in this life — with any of us. Let us make much of this guest. Do what we can now. 2. You will always have the poor. These Jesus loved and eared for. This legacy was not forgotten (Acts 4:31-37). Nor are the spiritually poor forgotten.Learn — 1. To love Jesus and show it. 2. That no gift consecrated to Jesus is wasted. 3. The best gift is a broken heart, the perfume of whose penitence and faith is pleasant to the Lord. (J. C. Gray.) Parallel Verses KJV: After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. |
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