"A Beautiful Thing!"

 

 

While he (Jesus) was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.  

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

Mark 14:3-9 NIV

Did you know that today on Amazon you can buy an Alabaster Jar containing Pure Nard Oil? The woman mentioned in Mark 14 and her expensive perfume are still remembered today, even as Jesus said they would be.

In today's dollars the perfume would probably be worth more than $20,000!

The critics said the woman wasted the expensive perfume by pouring it on the head of Jesus. But Jesus saw it differently. Jesus said she did "A Beautiful Thing."

And so I would ask you this: Have you ever "wasted" something of value to honor and bless Jesus? Have you done something for Jesus that He might consider to be "A Beautiful Thing?"

I know a doctor who began his career as a medical missionary and brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a third world country along with his healing arts! There were some who said he was wasting his life as a doctor. He could have made enough money in the U.S. to support a number of missionaries around the world. Was it a waste or rather "A Beautiful Thing" he did for Jesus?

When a mother chooses to give up a career so she can love, teach and train her children in the ways of the Lord, is she wasting her life for Jesus? I think Jesus would call her decision and life "A Beautiful Thing!"

Wasting your life for Jesus is a step beyond obedience! It is the spiritual equivalent of going "above and beyond the call to duty!" Wasting your life for Jesus is almost never practical. 

Look today for something you can do for Jesus that He will say is "A Beautiful Thing!"

"Lord Jesus, give me the heart to desire to waste my life for You! May You look at me and see "A Beautiful Thing!" Praise Your Holy Name now and forever. Amen."