Valuables 10.19.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we will complete our studies on the book of Mark, please read Chapters 14-16 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read them online. If the link does not work you can copy & paste this link to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2014-16&version=9

Today we will read and about the last Passover of Jesus; Peter denying Jesus; and Jesus' crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that there are many valuable things on this earth, but there is one treasure more valuable beyond anything that we can ever imagine and that treasure is Jesus.

The scribes and chief priests were continously look for some way in which they could kill Jesus. "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." (Mark 14:1). Simon, the leper, who Jesus healed, lived in the small town of Bethany, it was less than two miles south of Jerusalem on the slope of the Mount of Olives. Three days before Jesus was to be crucified, Simon invited Jesus and His disciples to his home for dinner. "And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her." (Mark 14:3-5).

The ointment of spikenard was very valuable, 300 pence was about a year's worth of wages for the common laborer. Jesus said, "Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her." (14:6-9). As a treasurer, Judas could not see what a valuable gift this woman gave to Jesus, he never recognized Jesus as Lord of his life. Therefore, anything given to Him was just a waste, and what made things worse was his ability to make others think the same way.

The lost opportunity to sell the ointment and pocket the money, coupled with a strong rebuke from Jesus, and the great honor that was bestowed upon Mary (the one who poured the ointment on Him), probably angered Judas to the point of why he betrayed Jesus. "And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him." (14:10-11). The betrayal and even the 30 pieces of silver that had been paid to Judas was foretold 600 years prior.

Today, our generation is no different and if you read through the Gospels you will often get a sense that Jesus is speaking about the present. In the world's estimation, when someone gives his time, talent, or tithes for Christ and His Church, it is sheer waste. Our human nature remains the same no matter what generation we are in and every person must make the personal choice of whether to accept or reject Jesus into their lives, but once our eyes have been opened to the worthiness of our Lord, nothing is too good for Him. Jesus said, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:19-21).

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I know that contentment with godliness is of great benefit. It brings about a lasting peace and grateful heart that only You can give. Help me not to focus so much on the material possessions that I lose sight of that which is of vital importance. May the character of my soul and the fruit of my actions be of much greater importance than the perishable goods that capture my attention. I look to You for proper balance in the things You have blessed me with and the attitude in which I receive these good things from Your hands. In Jesus name......Amen.

Have a wonderful day and week.
God bless,
Christina

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