September 22, 2023
Mark 14:1-11 (HCSB)
The Plot to Kill Jesus
14 After two days it was the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a treacherous way to arrest and kill Him. 2 “Not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be rioting among the people.”
The Anointing at Bethany
3 While He was in Bethany at the house of Simon who had a serious skin disease, as He was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of pure and expensive fragrant oil of nard. She broke the jar and poured it on His head. 4 But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this fragrant oil been wasted? 5 For this oil might have been sold for more than 300 denarii and given to the poor. ”And they began to scold her. 6 Then Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing for Me. 7 You always have the poor with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have Me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed My body in advance for burial. 9 I assure you: Wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.” 10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to hand Him over to them. 11 And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him silver. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.
James Burns
Here we have an incident where human behavior is presented very clearly. We have religious leaders plotting against what they considered a threat to their existence, we have a woman who, without concern for the cost, displayed true love and devotion to Jesus, and we have the human reaction of the disciples criticizing her based on financial reasons or jealousy (I wonder if Judas Iscariot was the instigator of that criticism?). Jesus knew exactly what was going on. He knew who was plotting against Him, and He knew who was truly devoted to Him. We are typically not faced with such stark responses to the Lord’s prompting, but have you ever wondered if you’re always on the right side of the fence (with the Lord) as you react to what’s going on in your world? Hmm?
The Plot to Kill Jesus
14 After two days it was the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a treacherous way to arrest and kill Him. 2 “Not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be rioting among the people.”
The Anointing at Bethany
3 While He was in Bethany at the house of Simon who had a serious skin disease, as He was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of pure and expensive fragrant oil of nard. She broke the jar and poured it on His head. 4 But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this fragrant oil been wasted? 5 For this oil might have been sold for more than 300 denarii and given to the poor. ”And they began to scold her. 6 Then Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing for Me. 7 You always have the poor with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have Me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed My body in advance for burial. 9 I assure you: Wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.” 10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to hand Him over to them. 11 And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him silver. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.
James Burns
Here we have an incident where human behavior is presented very clearly. We have religious leaders plotting against what they considered a threat to their existence, we have a woman who, without concern for the cost, displayed true love and devotion to Jesus, and we have the human reaction of the disciples criticizing her based on financial reasons or jealousy (I wonder if Judas Iscariot was the instigator of that criticism?). Jesus knew exactly what was going on. He knew who was plotting against Him, and He knew who was truly devoted to Him. We are typically not faced with such stark responses to the Lord’s prompting, but have you ever wondered if you’re always on the right side of the fence (with the Lord) as you react to what’s going on in your world? Hmm?
Recent
Archive
2026
January
January 1, 2025January 2, 2025Questions for the WeekJanuary 3, 2026Sunday Connect Lesson for January 4, 2025January 4, 2026January 5, 2026JANUARY 6, 2025January 6, 2026January 7, 2026January 8, 2026January 9, 2026Sunday Connect Lesson for January 11, 2026January 12, 2026January 13, 2026January 14, 2026January 15, 2026January 16, 2026Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for January 18, 2026January 19, 2026January 20, 2026January 21, 2026January 22, 2026January 23, 2026QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for January 25, 2026January 26, 2026January 27, 2026January 28, 2026January 29, 2026January 30, 2026
2025
January
January 1, 2025A Note From Pastor HDJanuary 2, 2025January 3, 2025January 4, 2025Sunday Connect Lesson for January 5, 2025January 6, 2025January 7, 2025January 8, 2025January 9, 2025January 10, 2025Questions for the WeekJanuary 12, 2025January 13, 2025January 14, 2025January 15, 2025January 16, 2025January 17, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for January 19, 2025January 20, 2025January 21, 2025January 22, 2025January 23, 2025January 24, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for January 26January 27, 2025January 28, 2025January 29, 2025January 30, 2025January 31, 2025
February
Questions for the WeekConnect Lesson for Sunday, February 2February 3, 2025February 4, 2025February 5, 2025February 6, 2025February 7, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for February 9, 2025February 10, 2025February 11, 2025February 12, 2025February 13, 2025February 14, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for February 16, 2025February 17, 2025February 18, 2025February 19, 2025February 20, 2025February 21, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for February 23, 2025February 24, 2025February 25, 2025February 26, 2025February 27, 2025February 28, 2025
No Comments