Mark 14:1-11

Preparation for Christ's death Mark 14:1-11: The chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses designed a terrible plot to kill Jesus. It was just two days before Passover. The concern of these Jews was that if they killed Jesus during Passover time that the people would riot. Jesus was still staying at Bethany. That night He was eating in the home of Simon the leper. A woman came in with a very expensive bottle of perfume. She broke it open, poured the perfume on the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. In John 12:3 she is identified as Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Judas and others scolded her and said, "Why such a waste? We could have sold this perfume for more than three hundred silver coins and given the money to the poor!" The value of the coins would have been equivalent to a year's wages. Jesus said, "Let her alone...She hath done what she could...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." (Mark 14:6-9)

In this amazing text Jesus said, "You will always have the poor with you. And whenever you want to, you can give to them." Followers of Christ always have plenty of opportunities to aid the poor and suffering. It is through serving the poor that our love for the Master is expressed. (Matthew 25:31-46) The closer we get to Him the more we will do for the poor. Giving to the poor is of no great value without it being done as a Christian and it being done with a spirit of love. (1 Corinthians 13:3) While helping to satisfy physical needs, we sometimes find opportunity to offer true spiritual help.