Jump Start # 3719
Mark 14:8 She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.
It was an all too familiar story, repeated so many times before. A family that has been part of a congregation for more than a dozen years, meets with the preacher after services one Sunday morning. They tell the sad and pitiful story of how they don’t feel connected and that they were not getting much out of services. They have decided to leave. They were letting the preacher know. This was it and they wouldn’t be back. And, with puppy dog faces, they say that they hate doing this but it was best for the family. They said that they would miss everyone, but it was something that had to be done.
The preacher sat and listened. He’d heard this song before. And, as hugs were exchanged and best wishes to everyone, they told the preacher, “We’re going to miss you.” The preacher caught himself, for he nearly said, “I’m going to miss you.” But he knew better. This family had been part of the church for a long time, but they were so inconsistent in coming. The man never did anything publicly. He never led a prayer. He never commented in a class. He never taught a class. But, doing things before others isn’t for everyone. This family didn’t do anything behind the scenes. When VBS rolled around, they’d bring their kids, some, but they never helped out in putting things together or taking things down. They never had another family from the church in their home. They were never seen at a funeral home encouraging a family from the church. They never sent a card to anyone. They never came to special classes or Gospel meetings that the church offered. They barely got their big toe in the water.
And, now they were leaving. They didn’t feel that they fit in. They off to another church, looking for what they couldn’t find at the current place. And, the preacher knew all too well, that in just a few short years, if that long, the family would leave the new place. It would be the same story all over again. And, if nothing changed, they would eventually just drop out all together. They would be critical of how unfriendly congregations were. Their faith, even after years of being Christians, remained very shallow and elementary.
How many names we could all put to that story. It is the frustration of preachers and elders kingdom wide. Not involved. Not engaged. Not interested enough to come. Always on the outside looking in. Forever seeking what the church offers for them. Consumer mentality and never realizing that they ought to bring something to the congregation.
When our time here is done, it will mean very little to the Lord that we worked decades balancing books, overseeing a business, helping the sick get better, maintaining a beautiful yard, paying off our homes and a multitude of things we call ‘life.’ What the Lord wants to know is what did you do for His kingdom? How did you encourage His people? How did you show others Jesus? How did you help others walk closer to the Lord?
Our verse today is the Lord’s defense for the woman who used very expensive perfume to anoint Him. She was criticized and rebuked by the disciples. What a waste of money, they said. As she was pouring perfume on the Lord, they were pouring guilt upon her. This could have been sold and the money given to the poor. The disciples made her feel like a heel. Jesus wouldn’t have it. He defended her, praised her and honored her. He included this story in His story.
She has done what she could, is how the Lord saw it. She didn’t do everything. No one can. She didn’t write any books of the Bible. She didn’t heal anyone. No one was raised from the dead because of her. She wasn’t chosen as an apostle. She didn’t die as a sacrifice for our sins. Doubt she ever preached. The list is long at what she never did. But, she did what she could. She honored the Lord by pouring a luxurious gift upon Him. It might have been the most expensive gift the Lord was ever given.
She did what she could. Now, some thoughts for us:
First, what have you done for the kingdom? Other than attending and possibly giving some money, how have you helped the people of God? Could you answer that? Would you answer that? What souls have you lifted up? What hearts have you strengthened? What shepherds have you defended and supported? Maybe you can’t preach. How have you helped those who do preach? Maybe you can’t teach. How do you help those who do teach?
Could the Lord say of you, “You have done what you could?”
Second, the anointing of Jesus was something for the moment. By the time Jesus went to the cross and all the trouble He experienced from sweaty brows in the garden, to bloody scalp from the crown of thorns, to a back shredded by scourging, to carrying a heavy cross and then having nails pounded into him, I doubt there was any fragrance of that perfume lingering on Him. One could say, it didn’t make any lasting impact. It was a waste. Jesus didn’t see it that way. For the moment, it was good. And, what you do may not change things down the road, but in the moment, you put a smile on someone’s face. For the moment, you encourage someone who is trying. For a moment, you welcome a visitor.
Could the Lord say of you, “You have done what you could?”
Third, our fellowship is simply that, “fellows in a ship.” We all have a role. You receive, but you also give. You take, but you also bring. You share. And, the richer that fellowship becomes, the greater impact you will have with God’s people.
Our dear Shane Scott passed through that door of death last week. The tributes that have flowed in all testify to his charming spirit, his joyous character and his amazing insights in God’s word. I preached with him in a lectureship years ago. He was amazing. He has been to our congregation and brought such rich words that helped. And, everywhere he went, he did what he could. He lifted spirits. He included and he invited everyone into his heart. He will be missed. What made Shane special was that he brought his talents to the kingdom.
She did what she could…Shane did what he could. How about you?
Roger