Do What You Can (Mark 14:1-10)

 Sermon for Milledgeville and Whitestown UMC

Do What You Can (Mark 14:1-10)

 

She did what she could. 
Mark 14:8a

Tom Hanks is the rudest celebrity I have ever met

I asked for an autograph and all he wrote was Thanks.

 

A celebrity, assassin, and activist walk into a bar.

They stand beside each other and have a friendly conversation.
Suddenly, the assassin takes a knife out and murders the celebrity. He dumps the celebrity in a nearby trash can. The activist turns red and screamed, “You bloody monster! You didn’t put them in the plastic section!”

 

Jesus was a celebrity. Can you imagine being in Jerusalem the day Jesus was greeted with such joy, admiration and hope as the crowds waved palm branches and shouted Hosanna? The people were longing for a deliverer. They were longing for an anointed king from the line of David, a godly man who would free Israel from oppression. They had heard of his healing miracles. He had amazed them by his authoritative teaching. They were enamored!

 

Jesus didn’t disappoint the crowds either. He arranged to ride into Jerusalem on a young donkey colt. He was purposefully fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

 

The people shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Psalm 118:25-26)

 

The next day, Jesus drove out the moneychangers from the temple and the animals set aside for sale as sacrificial offerings. The religious leaders are furious, but they are afraid of the crowd. So they try and discredit Jesus through trickery, a ploy His opponents used often. They are not successful. Jesus even complimented one expert in the law by telling him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” That evening Jesus warns the disciples of the coming destruction of the temple and the persecution of the Church. He warned them to stay alert and be ready, by bearing fruit, good deeds.

 

Before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread, Jesus was dining at the home of Simon the Leper. We know nothing more about Simon. We don’t know if Jesus had cured him, or not. We can assume he was known to the church in Jerusalem since John Mark lived in Jerusalem with his mother Mary. According to Acts 12, they hosted a congregation that met in their home.

 

While at the dinner a woman broke open an expensive vile of perfumed oil and anointed Jesus’ head with it. As the fragrance filled the room, some of the disciples grumbled against her. Why was this expensive oil wasted? We could have sold it for 300 denarii and given it to the poor! That would be around $15,000 in today’s currency.

 

Jesus rebuked these naysayers saying that she had done a beautiful thing for him. She was preparing him for his burial. Some think that the woman was Mary of Bethany, the sister to Martha and Lazarus. In John’s gospel account, she anointed Jesus’ feet. It could be the same event told differently, or it could be two different occasions. Jesus responds the same way.

 

“Stop bothering her! There will always be people in need. You can help the poor anytime you want, but you won’t always have me with you.”

 

That’s a difficult word for the men and women who followed Jesus. I have never known a day without Christ. His Spirit lives in believers. Whether I feel His presence, or not, Christ has never abandoned me or left me alone, precisely because He died and rose again.

 

But for these who were with him that night, they would soon experience their world turned upside down. The man that they had given their life to, for whom they had left everything, was about to die. They couldn’t understand why. And they didn’t want to believe it.

 

There are several players in the readings we heard this morning. There are the religious leaders who want to kill Jesus. There is the crowd that hailed Jesus as the promised messiah king of Israel. There are the disciples, the unnamed woman who anointed Jesus, and there’s Jesus’ host, Simon the leper. Each has their part in this passion play.

 

The religious leaders will remain the bad guys.

The crowd will turn on Jesus, as does Judas Iscariot.

When Jesus is arrested in a few days, His disciples will scatter in fear.

But Simon and the woman of Bethany did what they could to support Jesus. Simon provided food and shelter. The woman provided perfumed oil for the anointed one. Her action was filled with love and compassion for the savior who was feeling the pressure of what was coming. He knew he was going to die. He knew Judas would betray him. He knew His disciples would abandon him in fear. Such tragedy would break any man.

 

But Jesus also knew that His Father had a plan. Jesus trusted that plan, even if it meant his own suffering and death. He trusted, though He didn’t want to go through with the torture and crucifixion. He will later pray in the Garden of Gethsemane,

 

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Mat 26:39)

 

The woman did what she could to ease his burden, by showing Jesus extravagant grace and extraordinary compassion. Jesus was strengthened by her loving deed.

 

I know when my leg was broken, I was supported by many friends and family. I was greatly helped by their loving care. They showed up and it meant the world to me.

 

You all have that kind of power to bless lives with your loving actions. Simple things like telephone calls, sending cards and flowers, arranging to visit with those you know are going through a difficult time, make more of a difference than we think. They make a lasting impact.

 

In a world that is riddled with selfishness, division, and greed, there will always be people you know who are going through tough times. Whether it’s illness, or financial difficulties, job loss or the loss of loved ones, You have an opportunity to show up, be present with compassion and care, and do what you can.

 

Just as Jesus needed the woman of Bethany, to show him compassion and kindness, there are people who need you right now. You can likely bring them to mind. So remember the woman of Bethany and her example. She did what she could. So can you!

 

Do what you can! For you are an emissary of Jesus Christ. He is with you through the Spirit of Christ that dwells in your heart. You carry His light and life. For when You do what you can for those in need, you’re doing it for Jesus.

 

Make a choice this week to reach out in love and compassion.

May God bless your Holy Week!