A Waste or a Blessing? > Mark 14:1-11
14:1-2 These two verses provide foreshadowing for what is coming later in the chapter and also for what we will see today: there are only two responses to Christ and His work.
14:3-5 This woman anoints Christ and immediately receives scorn from some of those present with Him: they see her actions as wasteful and boast of caring for the poor instead…
14:6-9 …yet Jesus Himself corrects their understanding: what this woman has done is not a waste, but instead a blessing. What’s more, nothing she did prevents the disciples from giving to the poor – their self-righteousness is empty.
14:10-11 Our passage ends by fulfilling what it began with: the chief priests now have their chance to get rid of Jesus.
Emphasis: Christ’s death has been in view for some time now, but the disciples haven’t wanted to accept it. This woman, however, sees the truth of things and challenges everyone to either line up behind Christ and His plans or to reject Him.
Context: From Mark 11 (the triumphal entry) to this point, we have seen Jesus increasingly challenge the corrupt religious leadership and talk about what is coming – both at the end of time and in the more immediate future.
Theme: Christ will soon die – the only two responses are to believe and honor Him or to reject Him.
Gospel: Those who reject Christ are unable to see anything redeeming in those who honor Him. Yet, even Christ’s disciples (minus Judas) will end up being redeemed by Him.
Applications: Christ’s plan looks like failure this side of the cross, but it will forever be victory upon His resurrection. Whose vision will you trust? Who will you follow?
