The Beautiful Thing

The Beautiful Thing

Pastor Brett Rickey

3.08.20

Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.” While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Mark 14:1-11

3 Observations

a. It’s so easy to criticize and judge each others.

“Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. Matthew 7:1-2

b. Deeds far outlast words.

Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.

c. Jesus values extravagant generosity.

Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

Living the Beautiful Way

1. Look for ways to express your love for Jesus.

• Public expression follows private connection.

2. Get honest before the Lord about what’s in your heart.

3. Get out of the “wounded seat” on the bus.

The kinds of PAIN that keeps people stuck.

• the pain of betrayal

• the pain of loss

• the pain of divorce

• the pain of isolation and loneliness

• the pain of depression

• the pain of bankruptcy

• the pain of personal moral failure

• the pain of addiction and co-dependence

Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Corinthians 7:8-10