"SHE HAS DONE WHAT SHE COULD!"

Mark 14:3-9                           (ESV)
"3 And while HE was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as HE was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over HIS head.
4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment "wasted" like that?
5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they scolded her.
6 But JESUS said, "Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to ME.
7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have ME.
8 "SHE HAS DONE WHAT SHE COULD"; she has anointed MY body beforehand for burial.
9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her."



For many years I was so upset with the torturous, humbling crucifixion of JESUS that I would say that had I been alive during the day I would have intervened and JESUS wouldn't have had to die!  Of course, I now understand that a perfect sacrifice was REQUIRED, and the only ONE who was qualified to be that sacrifice was JESUS, the CHRIST (Hebrews 10:1-18).  The Gospel of John identifies the woman spoken about above as Mary, but regardless of whom it was, "SHE HAD DONE WHAT SHE COULD" for JESUS!

In 1 Peter 1:20 scripture reveals that JESUS was chosen "before the foundation of the world" to provide the sacrifice for our sins.  GOD had/has a Plan and NOTHING anyone could have done in an attempt to circumvent that Plan would have proven successful.  Many times scripture records that JESUS "willingly" laid down HIS life for the sins of ALL mankind.  From Adam and Eve until my latest failures, JESUS freely and willingly paid the penalty for mankind's failures out of HIS love for us, AND HIS obedience to the FATHER.  HE knew when HE was a boy teaching in the temple (Luke 2:41:52) what HIS future held, and yet HE continued to live a perfect life for you and me!

The disciples had become so caught up in "ministry" that they couldn't "SEE" GOD IN FLESH was about to be slain for the sins of the entire world regardless of how many times JESUS told them what HIS fate would be.  It is recorded in the Gospel of John 12:4 that the main culprit was Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would ultimately betray JESUS for 30 pieces of silver.  This seems so hateful, deceitful, and underhanded!

But do we not do the same thing sometimes?  Showing the LOVE OF CHRIST does NOT entail succumbing to "this worlds" lawless, sinful ways, but rather living in a Holy, respectful, GOD fearing manner as a testimony for HIM!  About five years ago a wise mentor of mine told me words that continue to shape my actions to this day!  He said "We try to be more than GOD ever intended us to be"!  GOD does not need me to be anything other than what HIS Plan calls for me to be!  Not only did GOD have a Plan for JESUS, but HE had a Plan for Mary, AND HE has a Plan for you and me!  JESUS said  of Mary "SHE HAS DONE WHAT SHE COULD" for HIM.  I pray that I WILL DO WHAT I CAN, and NOTHING more or less!!!