SHE HATH DONE WHAT SHE COULD

MARK 14:1-9

Pastor Rick Jackson*

How many people in the Scriptures have ever had that said of them? We can dedicate ourselves to the Lord but only the Lord can determine how much we have done. For this particular time and in this particular place it is Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha- of whom the Lord says this wonderful statement, She hath done what she could. We don't know that Jesus ever said that about any men or any other women. We don't know a whole lot of things Mary said but we know of several things Mary did. Isn't that the case even in history? We remember more what most people did than what they said. Proverbs 20:11 declares, "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right."

I. MARY'S ACTIONS

1. Mary Sat at Jesus Feet to Grow [Lk. 10:38-39]

We need to know something before we can do something. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

2. Mary Fell Down at Jesus Feet to Grieve [Jn. 11:28-37]

Do you realize Jesus understands sorrow better than anyone else in the world? He was the most forsaken person in the universe.

Isaiah 53:3-4 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

3. Mary Knelt at Jesus Feet to Give [Jn. 12:1-9]

This is not to be confused with the account of the sinful woman in Luke 7:36-46. Mary may have been inspired but this event and even more so be Jesus' words to that Simon. Note what she did according to Mk. 14:3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. and John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

II. MARY'S CHARACTERIZATION

1. As One of a group that loved Jesus [Jn. 12:1-3]

Martha was serving (and that's wonderful), Lazarus was fellowshipping (also wonderful) and Mary (sacrificed for the cause- she saw something others had missed- perhaps because she took the time to sit at Jesus feet). Not everyone has the same gifts, do the same things in the same way. Even within the same family.

2. As One who wasted her resources [Jn. 12:4-6, Mt. 26:8, Mk. 14:4]

The world and worldly Christians see things as waste that aren't wasted. Money, talent, time, lives... "Only one life, twill soon be past, Only what's done, for Christ will last"

3. As One who was Approved by God [Jn. 12:7-8]

Mark 14:9 Verily I say unto you, 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.

I Pt. 2:3-5 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

III. MARY'S CHOICE

Mary had 3 choices with her treasure.

1. She could use it all on herself or someone else of the world.

2. She could use part on herself and part on Jesus.

3. She could use it all on Jesus.

She chose to use it all on Jesus. And look how she did that.

Costly was not enough- it had to be very costly [Jn. 12:3, 5]

Unbroken was not enough- it had to be broken [Mark 14:3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.]

Part was not enough- she had to give it all [Jn. 12:3]

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

ROMANS 12:1,2

*inspired by a message by the late Evangelist Fred Brown