That Happy Certainty - Gospel | Culture | Planting
  • Writing
    • Not in Vain: 1 Corinthians Devotional
    • Explore Lamentations
    • eBook: Good News People
    • eBook: Filtered Grace
    • Gospel Coalition Articles
    • Church Society Articles
    • Threads Articles
    • Explore Ecclesiastes
    • Explore Galatians
    • Evangelicals Now Articles
  • Book Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Join Us
Writing
    Not in Vain: 1 Corinthians Devotional
    Explore Lamentations
    eBook: Good News People
    eBook: Filtered Grace
    Gospel Coalition Articles
    Church Society Articles
    Threads Articles
    Explore Ecclesiastes
    Explore Galatians
    Evangelicals Now Articles
Book Reviews
Interviews
Join Us
  • Writing
    • Not in Vain: 1 Corinthians Devotional
    • Explore Lamentations
    • eBook: Good News People
    • eBook: Filtered Grace
    • Gospel Coalition Articles
    • Church Society Articles
    • Threads Articles
    • Explore Ecclesiastes
    • Explore Galatians
    • Evangelicals Now Articles
  • Book Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Join Us
That Happy Certainty - Gospel | Culture | Planting
Mark, jesus

Responding to Jesus: the woman with the alabaster jar…

So Jesus is at dinner at your mate’s house in Bethany, and you’re just chatting post-grub. And then this woman comes along with an alabaster jar filled with a year’s wages worth of permume, and she breaks it and pours it all over Jesus’ head. The guy next to you exclaims, ‘Why was the ointment wasted like that?’ (v. 4)

What’s your reaction? I can imagine myself folding my arms and muttering exactly the same words. ‘What a lunatic. So over the top. She is just an embarssment.’

But Jesus? Well…

“Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” (7-9)

Can you imagine it? That’s immense. He commends her beyond measure. Her radical extravagance has in some way recognised the fact that Jesus wasn’t gonna be around forever. He brings it straight down to earth: ‘You will not always have me… she has anointed my body beforehand for burial.’ He is going to die. Her action, her hugely ‘over-the-top’ reaction, has recognised who Jesus is. And in fact she’s probably the first person up to this point in Mark who’s rightly responded to Jesus’ death. Certainly the chief priests (14.1-2), the disciples (14.10-11, 18-19), and I didn’t.

Nothing is too precious for Him! His blood has been poured out for many, confirming the new covenant (v. 24), by which we are cleansed and recieve the Spirit so that we may be moved to obey (Ez. 36.34-27). We have new hearts!

As Sinclair Ferguson said, ‘The determining factor of my existence is no longer my past. It is Christ’s past.’ Praise Him! He is worthy!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
May 18, 2006by Robin Ham
Fun, Humour

This is priceless comedy…

By all means read the article, but you have to watch the video!

Credit to Dan for the link!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
May 18, 2006by Robin Ham

About Me

 

Hello, my name is Robin. Welcome to That Happy Certainty, where I write and collate on Christianity, culture, and ministry. I’m based in Barrow-in-Furness in South Cumbria, England, where I serve a church family called St Paul’s Barrow, recently merged together from two existing churches, St Paul’s Church and Grace Church Barrow.

Available Now: Advent 2021 – Finding Hope Under Bethlehem Skies

A fresh look at Advent through the book of Ruth. Why not order a bunch for your church to read through Advent together here. 100 for £1 each!

‘Not In Vain’ – 1 Corinthians 31-day devotional

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Top Posts

  • What we think about God is the most important thing about us: Discovering Tozer's Wider Paragraph
    What we think about God is the most important thing about us: Discovering Tozer's Wider Paragraph
  • Creature Of The Word: Church-Planting with Luther
    Creature Of The Word: Church-Planting with Luther
  • The Sunday Refill - 7 Links for Your Weekend (22/1/23)
    The Sunday Refill - 7 Links for Your Weekend (22/1/23)
Refill on inspiring Christian links each week and join 1,152 other subscribers...

Thank you for subscribing! Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

“If we could be fully persuaded that we are in the good grace of God, that our sins are forgiven, that we have the Spirit of Christ, that we are the beloved children of God, we would be ever so happy and grateful to God. But because we often fear and doubt we cannot come to that happy certainty.”
- Martin Luther

© 2018 copyright That Happy Certainty // All rights reserved //
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.