Starting Wednesday, September 7, we begin our study through the Book of Jonah. This is an exciting Old Testament book that explores the wonder of God, His grace and mercy, and His love for all people. The study begins at 6:30.
Mark 14:3-9 provides some interesting insights into what worship is “worth.”
While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head. But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her.
But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”
What reading this passage recently, I was thunderstruck by the apostles’ estimate of the woman’s action: “wasted.” How caustic! How accusatory! How unkind! For those seeking to be good stewards of the time, talents, and treasures, to be found “wasting” is discouraging.
Why did the apostles esteem the woman’s actions to be a waste? Because they could conceive “better” plans. This mixed bunch of fishermen, zealots, and tax collectors banded together as self-appointed assessors. They had a good idea of the fair market value of nard (an aromatic oil) in Roman-controlled Israel. Not only could they envision selling the oil at a high price, but they devised how to spend the proceeds in benevolence.
Often times in the Gospels, the apostles have questions, such as “What is the meaning of the parable?” or “Why could we not cast out the demon?” To these, Jesus provides explanation. What makes this incident different from so many others is that the apostles are not asking a genuine question. Notice that they were “indignantly remarking” and “scolding” the woman. When used elsewhere in the New Testament, these words don’t imply a light reprimand or subtle displeasure. No, the apostles-turned-assessors were visibly upset at the “waste.”
Jesus’ response is a sermon in and of itself. However, in light of the apostles’ response, simply note: Jesus does not consider the woman’s actions a “waste.” Jesus is the true assessor. He created the plant that provides the nard and the stone flask in which it was contained. He creates and cares for both the rich and the poor. An offering made to Jesus, is never a “waste.”
Since you likely don’t have an alabaster flask of nard handy, what type of offering does Jesus find acceptable? Something you definitely have since you’re reading this: your life.
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
Pour out your life for Jesus and look to Him for approval. Even the apostles were wrong in their assessments sometimes. Keep “wasting” your Sundays and Wednesday nights for Him. Keep “wasting” your life by pursuing Godly and edifying relationships and not just “fun times.” Keep “wasting” your money on furthering His Kingdom and not your own. Keep “wasting” your intelligence by devoting yourself to the study of Scripture. Keep “wasting” your talents on the “unappreciative and lowly.”
Just be sure you are doing it for Him.
When you are selecting a local church in which to participate, what criteria do you use in your decision making? In our consumer mentality, we are prone to select churches like we do for a service or product–such as a computer. “Hmmm. Let’s see, that one has 4GB of RAM, a 7200 RPM hard drive, a mediocre video card and a Blu-Ray player, but that other one has…” We can erroneously adopt the same attitude in church selection. “Hmmm. Let’s see, that one has an early service, a great kids’ program, a mediocre worship band and good teaching, but that other one has…”
Don’t select a church for the “sunny days” only (i.e., the fun couples’ retreat, the exciting high-school ministry, the evening musical worship service, and the engaging Sunday morning sermon). Select a church for the “rainy days” too (i.e., discovery of terminal illness, job loss, shocking discovery of sin in the home, death of a child).
While “sunny days” (or perhaps “cloudy days”) are the routine for most people, “rainy days” and “torrential storms” are inevitable for everyone. During those times, a proper foundation in faith is critical. In John 16:33, Jesus states: “In the world you have tribulation.” Furthermore, James describes that trials are varied (James 1:2). During those times, involvement in a local fellowship is vital. Unfortunately, for many people, it is only during these trials they realize their plight of being either disconnected from a local assembly or that any sense of “community” they thought was real was a sham.
In Matt 7:24-27, Jesus described one who built his life upon His words. The one who built “upon the rock” did not experience destruction. A practical way in which we can build solidly, is by attending a fellowship that will support a firm, Biblical foundation. This will help us be better situated to weather the storms that will come
Psalm 18:34 reads: “He trains my hands for battle, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” This is in the larger context of the psalm which concerns God’s power during battle. It is a parallel passage to 2 Sam 22. To bend a bow of bronze is no small feat. It would require incredible physical strength. God in His might leads us to do what is seemingly impossible.
Show a piano composition by Chopin to most 3rd grade beginning piano students and say: “Someday you’ll play this piece.” Likely they would deny the proposition stating it’s far too hard. Their world of piano music is bound by simple and carefully-arranged tunes–they can’t imagine their fingers flying over 88 keys. Likewise, show a complex trigonometry problem to many junior high students and confidently state: “Someday, you’ll solve this question.” It’s likely you’ll get the same type of response, for even pre-algebra seems insurmountable.
How does someone get to “bend a bow of bronze?” How does someone get from inability to ability and from disbelief to belief? The answer: God’s training. Most significant change is slow-moving. Things that get accomplished slowly over time include qualities of: repetition, advancing and fractional.
Repetitious: A task that is completed time after time and not just a “flash in the pan,” such as: investing a few dollars every month, exercising multiple times a week, or perfecting a musical scale daily.
Advancing: Progress being made in a focused direction, such as: increasing the weight on the barbell over time or ensuring that tricky note is neither sharp nor flat.
Fractional: Each time the task is completed, any progress is perhaps imperceptible when compared with the previous time the task was executed. However, progress is being made in some fashion–building resistance, increasing comprehension, or improving skill.
What is impossible to you right now? What sin seems insurmountable? What is your “bow of bronze?” The Lord God trains to overcome. I suggest He does so similar to what we see in our physical world where there is typically no “one-time fix” like a weekend seminar. Daily, we come to Christ in devotion to Him and focus on His Word. Weekly, we participate in fellowship and worship in a local assembly each Sunday and often for a mid-week study. Moment-by-moment, we submit our lives to Christ throughout our day.
In this process of sanctification, you too can bend a bow of bronze…provided you submit to the Trainer.
Consider the pitiable condition of this woman and the radical transformation described in Mark’s gospel.
“A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse…” (Mk. 5:25-26)
The words to describe her are full of weight. She had “endured much…at the hands of…spent all that she had…was not helped at all…had grown worse….”
Do these phrases sound familiar–perhaps for yourself or for someone you know? Over the course of a dozen years, this woman’s resources, health, and hope had been ebbing away in a cycle of “Try, try, and try again.” In context, the “all she had” was likely money. However, consider all she had “spent” in other ways: prayers, hope-filled speech, sleepless nights, willingness to try another round of treatment.
Despite more than a decade of discouragement, note her response to simply hearing about the Messiah: “…after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she thought, ‘If I just touch His garments, I will get well.’” (Mk. 5:27-28) Observe that she was confident that Jesus was THE solution for her affliction. Suffering had not snuffed out hope.
If you aren’t familiar with the story, read the next few verses. Jesus heals her instantly. No more rounds of treatment; no more hope mingled with fear; no more disappointment. This long-standing problem was instantly reversed. In short, she “received much…at the hands of…given all that she had…was helped completely…became instantly better.”
Perhaps you’ve read these verses before and glossed over them. In a recent reading of Scripture, these jumped out in bold relief:
And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.” The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” (Mk. 3:20-22)
After selecting the Apostles, Jesus returns to a house in Galilee where he’s greeted by three distinct groups of people.
The first? The hungry…so hungry spiritually they couldn’t eat physically. Perhaps you’ve been to some crowded holiday party where there’s a sea of elbows between you and the vegetable tray. People were attracted to Jesus, wanting to be where He was.
The second? The haughty. This group ‘knew better’ than Jesus and sought to protect him from his delusion. Those in attendance around Christ were likely viewed with pity and disgust for their interest in a ‘lunatic.’
The third? The hostile. Though these scribes were on a business trip to do some reconnaissance work, their opinion was already decided. Unable to cast other aspersions upon this popular and blameless Teacher, they attribute His work to Satan.
C.S. Lewis defended Christ’s authority in answering the question of: “Is Jesus a liar, lunatic, or Lord?” Jesus Himself asked the apostles “Who do you say that I am?” (Mt. 16:15). Assuming you’re awake 16-hours a day, you have 960 minutes to intentionally govern your thoughts, words, and actions. During those minutes, stay hungry.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Mt. 5:6)
Romans 10:13 is quite an astounding verse:“Whoever will call on the name of the LORD will be saved.” This verse was originally penned in Joel 2:32, and was also spoken by Peter in Acts 2:21 on the Day of Pentecost.
Consider the import of these words, and try to apply this to some other sphere of life. In each example, it’s a ludicrous impossibility.
Unlike our human understanding, God doesn’t restrict His gracious offer. He opens salvation to all: “Whoever!” God doesn’t make the way to salvation complex. The path is simplified to: “calling.” God doesn’t suggest doubt as to the results. He inspires confidence with the words: “will be.” God doesn’t compromise the security offered. He grants blessed assurance with: “saved.”
“Whoever will call on the name of the LORD will be saved.”
Perhaps you’ve seen those videos or TV shows where it shows a room full of dominoes being toppled. Usually, the action is short-lived, as tens of thousands are tipped over in a choreographed pattern and display.
So, imagine the “Domino Master” and his child in that room. “Now Junior,” he instructs. “You may look, but don’t touch.” The child understands completely, and the father leaves the room. Within a few moments, and with a casual push of his finger, the child tips over that primary domino.
To his surprise, an unstoppable wave of catastrophe begins. Evenly-spaced monoliths are helplessly pushed from behind. Each involuntarily topples over the next monolith in an endless succession. The pattern is repeated over, and over, and over again as a black ripple snakes across the room leaving a wake of horizontal dominoes.
After a few minutes, the rhythmic clicking ceases and the final domino falls. As if on cue, the father returns to the room. He instantly sees the damage done and knows who instigated it.
Why the domino illustration? Read this verse from Romans 5:15.
“But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.”
Now, imagine that father doing the following: with one simple act he raises all the dominoes from horizontal to vertical again instantly. No fanfare, no sweat, no laborious adjustment and no slight of hand. Just one swift action that undoes all the catastrophe the child caused.
Wow.
When trying to compare the fall of man and the redemptive work of Christ, admittedly, the domino illustration falls far short. However, the point is this: both Adam’s actions and Christ’s actions are amazing, but the powerful grace of God is nothing short of awesome. The fall of man in the Garden of Eden caused a horrific ripple effect of destruction–born out of weakness and disobedience. Juxtaposed is the death and resurrection of Jesus which brings glorious opportunity for redemption–born out of power and submission. Praise be to God, who by the one act of Jesus, has made His grace abound to the many.
Pr 29:25-26 warns us not to fear people, but the Lord. We are not to look to people for vindication or approbation, but God. By default, however, we are prone to look to individuals’ for acknowledgment and approval.
“The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the LORD.” (Pr 29:25-26)
It is a challenge to our inclination to live by sight and not by faith. People are so real and tangible. We hear their voices and read their words. They discourage with dirty looks and inspire with approving nods. Wielding apparent great power, people hire, fire, promote, and demote. They ask and imply and we are all to eager to ingratiate ourselves and deliver.
But these verses in Proverbs echo what Scripture repeatedly makes clear: God alone is exalted. “Surely every man at his best is a mere breath.” (Ps 39:5) Any person’s power or influence is very limited–both in scope and duration. Man’s approval, while real and present, still proceeds from a depraved and fallen creature. That’s a far cry from receiving approval from the Eternal Holy Lord Almighty when He declares: “well done good and faithful servant” (Mt 25:21).
Aside from this exhortation to seek the Lord’s approval, also remember…you are a person too. There are some that are likely seeking your good opinion or favor–whether you’re a grandparent, business manager, sports coach, friend, or parent. We all have a sphere of influence. So be careful not to let this position of influence go “to your head.”
The Lord alone is exalted.
Many are familiar with Peter’s denial of Jesus in the courtyard of the High Priest. We shake our heads in amazement, observing the contrast to the bold and brave Peter from earlier chapters and verses. While much could be written, note two things about Peter, and how he set himself up for denying his Lord.
First, Peter set himself up for failure by being idle. While John entered into the court of the high priest, Peter did not. Rather than go back and rally the rest of the apostles, pray, or even try and rally a crowd, he stopped short. He stood…but didn’t take a stand.
Second, Peter set himself for disaster during his time of trouble and confusion. Peter was likely dismayed, fearful, amazed, and questioning–probably more than any other point in his life. This is not the ideal time to ‘hang out’ with unbelieving Romans and hostile Jews.
Ultimately, Jesus knew this of Peter and allowed him to fail. Peter learned what he was truly made of and cried out to his Savior. And…his Savior saved.
