The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 14:1-7, “Now the Passover and Unleavened Bread was two days off; and the chief priests

and the scribes were seeking how to seize Him by stealth, and kill Him;

2 for they were saying, ‘Not during the festival, lest there be a riot of the people.’

3 And 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.

4 But some were indignantly remarking to one another, ‘Why has this perfume been wasted?

5 “For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to

the poor.’ And they were scolding her.

6 But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me.

7 “For the poor you always have with you, and whenever you wish, you can do them good; but

you do not always have Me.’”

8 “’She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.

9 “And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, that also which this

woman has done shall be spoken of in memory of her.’”

When was the last time someone did something outstanding for you? Or should we ask, “When was the last time we did something outstanding for them?” I’ve received a host of nice gifts over the years, some very recent. Some I’ve even had to question whether the giver could afford it.

But that was not what bothered those in our verses above. This unidentified woman entered the home of Simon the leper, and anointed the head of Jesus with a very expensive perfume. No one asked her where she got it, or why she anointed the head of Jesus; they just criticized her for doing it. Most of us, I would believe, have at sometime criticized the expenditures of others, as if their money belonged to us. Sometimes we actually voiced our criticism. These critics, chief priests and scribes, scolded this woman, as if she were acting as a naughty, unwise child.

Amazingly, the woman offered no defence to their criticism. She gave them no room for further criticism. Sometimes silence is golden! If she were to be defended, it would have to be by someone else. Then, in steps Jesus! “Let her alone!” He said. “She has done a good deed to Me… She has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.” Jesus knew He was going to die. The woman apparently knew it, too. Had she been enabled to have done more, undoubtedly she would have.

Jesus’ response continued as He said, “And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, that also which this woman has done shall be spoken of in memory of her.” Dear reader, that prophecy has just been fulfilled—again! Still, we cannot out-give God! He gave His Son; and He gave Him for you. Take a moment and thank Him for His Supreme Blessing.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”