In Memory of Her

Today's Verse

Mark 14:9 (NIV)

I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.

Read: Mark 14:1-10

Thoughts

Think about yourself being commended by a king because of an extraordinary thing that you did. How would it feel? In our story, we read that Jesus commended a woman who anointed Him with expensive perfume few days before His death. It must have been the greatest commendation of all for it came from the King of kings and Lord of lords – Jesus Christ. That woman was no other than Mary Magdalene. Mary was believed to be a prostitute, with seven demons whom Jesus casted out (Mark 16:9). She was from Bethany, and she was the sister of Martha and Lazarus – the guy whom Jesus raised from the dead. Apparently, Lazarus was the only guy who experienced physical death twice! Nonetheless, Lazarus never complained coming back to life even when he was stinking dead for four days (John 11:39) and was already enjoying heaven. Jesus explicitly called out his name, “Lazarus, come out” (John 11:43), otherwise all of the dead came out and it would have been the first Halloween.

There is nothing more important than giving our best to Jesus Christ, like Mary did. She broke the alabaster jar and poured out the very costly spikenard oil on the head of Jesus – as expression of anointing. The oil perfume was priced around three hundred dinarii or more than a year’s wage. More likely, it must have been her earnings being a prostitute. And she did not regret throwing it away for she had been freed from the bondage of sin and Satan – and anything about her past have been surrendered to Jesus. She cannot just express her gratefulness enough when Jesus delivered her from the seven demons, and gave her a fresh new start. Now she committed her very life to following Jesus all the way to the cross and beyond. So much so, that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene on the resurrection day before anyone else (John 20:14).

True enough, every time the gospel is preached, the story of Mary Magdalene is also being told. To show us that no matter how broken and unacceptable we are, whatever our past was, Jesus died for all our sin and freed us from the bondage of Satan. All we need to do is give Him back our praise and worship, and tell the whole world about our freedom and new life in Jesus Christ. What have you been doing for Jesus lately? Was it worth commending?

Prayer

Lord God Heavenly Father, thank You for the example of Mary Magdalene, who lived a life that was totally committed to serving You. Oh Lord, bring us back to fellowship with You for we have been burdened and overwhelmed by the cares and problems on this earth. Help us to lay them all at the feet of Jesus – for You care about us. Thank You Lord Jesus. Amen.