6. Mark 14:6-9
But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”
There are six incredibly important words lodged in this scene that are easy to overlook. In between wondering what Jesus meant by saying “the poor you will always have with you” and his focus on his impending crucifixion, it’s easy to miss these six words: “She has done what she could.”
Why is this so important? Because it reminds us that faith doesn’t have to be heroic to be significant. She has done what she could. Nothing more, nothing less. Jesus recognizes the gift of this woman and holds her up as a paragon of faith. Think about it. Mark doesn’t tell us that she followed Jesus to the cross (she may have, but we don’t hear about it). She hasn’t somehow prevented his crucifixion. She hasn’t given up everything, taken up her cross, and followed Jesus in any demonstrable or dramatic way. She has simply done what she could do. And in that simple gesture of devotion and gratitude Jesus is anointed, purified, in a way that she could probably not even imagine. No wonder we still talk about her!
Which brings us back to Jesus’ statement about the poor. In this light, Jesus isn’t being cavalier or dismissive. Rather, he is saying that we have all around us ample opportunity to do what is right, to practice our faith, to love others as Jesus did. We will always, that is, have the opportunity to do what we can.
One last thing before closing. I have often mourned the fact that this woman – who will be remembered because of what she has done – isn’t given a name. I’ve regularly assumed this was just one more example of a culture that didn’t value women and regretted how omitting her name reinforced some of our own unhelpful attitudes about women. And that may very well be the case. But lately I’ve also wondered if Mark’s omission was intentional, inviting us to identify with her, to actually see ourselves as her. In Mark, you see, it is regularly the women who understand what real discipleship is, and so I wonder if this is another example of a woman who understood that to be a disciple doesn’t necessarily involve scaling mountains – or having everyone know your name – but instead reflects a day-to-day commitment to live as Jesus did. Discipleship, that is, is doing what you can.
So with that in mind, what can you do? What can we do together? What small gestures can we offer? Care for a friend, shovel a neighbor’s walk, read to a child, contribute your time and talent to an organization that needs you, work together so that fewer people will go to bed tonight hungry and cold. What? It doesn’t have to be big. And, in light of Jesus’ words, we may well discover that, when done in faith, there is no small gesture.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the example of this faithful disciple. May we always remember her and in this way be spurred to our own acts of faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wonderful insight, David. Sometimes we who preach try so hard to find the meaning in a text that we “can’t see the forest for the trees.” Six words ~ easily overlooked, bring it right down to the level of all of us in the sanctuary on a Sunday morning. What can we do, right now, at this moment, with the resources we have (however small).
I am saying Amen a lot. AMEN.
David, I loved this and am sharing it with my church tonight! Thanks and God Bless You!
Perfect Word in due season. Thank you for sharing and your obedience to our Father. Blessings beyond measure to you and yours!