Jesus Over MONEY

Read Mark 14:1-11

Jesus spent Wednesday of Holy Week hanging out with His disciples at the home of one of His friends in Bethany, who was named Simon the Leper.

While they were sitting together at the table, a woman came into the room and anointed Jesus’ head with an entire bottle of very expensive perfume, and then she bowed down and worshiped Him. In fact, some of the disciples were angry at the extravagance. They said that the bottle could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and that money given to the poor! Think about that. In the United States, the Social Security Administration estimates the average individual annual income at almost $70,000 in 2026. We can kind of jive with the disciples, right? That money could do a lot of good for a lot of people we know. Wouldn’t Jesus agree?

But He did not. Jesus had a lesson for them, and it’s for us too. He told His disciples gently, “Let her alone…she has done a beautiful thing for Me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them anytime you want. But you will not always have Me.” He said, “She did what she could” to prepare Him for His burial (which would be hasty on Friday). Just in case He had failed to make His point, this is the only time in the Scriptures where He adds, “Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” This was that important to Him.

He really wants us to understand – Jesus comes first. Jesus’ disciples were a motley crew from mostly working-class neighborhoods, and that bottle was probably worth more money than some of them had ever seen. But Jesus confirmed that it was put to the best use. Even good things (like helping the poor) come in second place. Worship of Jesus comes first.

Judas Iscariot was so angry about this that he left Simon’s house and went to the Jewish leaders and asked how much money they would give him to betray Jesus. He did not see the value in Jesus that the woman had.

If Jesus is Lord of all, He is Lord even of our money and possessions, and our attitudes toward them. Whether that be much or little, may we do “what we could” to use these things to serve Him. They have no greater purpose than to be used to bring Him glory.

He is Worthy:

1.   Lord, You are Lord of everything, even those things which tend to be most precious to me. (v. 6)

2.   You own the cattle on a thousand hills and the money in a thousand bank accounts. Please show me how best to use _________ that You’ve entrusted to me to bring You glory. (v. 9)

3.   Lord, You deserve everything I have and so much more.

We are Needy:

1.   Father, please show me any way that I am using what You’ve given me for any lesser purpose than to bring You glory.

2.   Please forgive me for holding onto things that aren’t mine and that cannot satisfy me apart from You. I give _________ to You right now to do with as You please.

3. Please help me to see any place in my life where I am not putting Jesus first. Please help me to turn this ship around.