March 9, 2025 – Reckless Abandonment – Mark 14:1-11
Mark 14:1-11 of the Bible describes Jesus’ friends and enemies, including a woman’s extravagant gift to Jesus and Judas’ betrayal of Jesus.
The woman’s gift
- Jesus was at a dinner party in Simon the leper’s home
- A woman anonymously poured an expensive perfume over Jesus’ head
- Some criticized the woman, but Jesus told them to leave her alone
- Jesus praised her, saying, “She has done what she could”
Judas’ betrayal
- Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, betrayed Jesus to the chief priests in exchange for money
- Judas’ betrayal occurred after three years of following Jesus
The chief priests were pleased with Judas’ betrayal
Other details
- The Jewish leaders were trying to destroy Jesus since shortly after his ministry began
- The Jewish leaders wanted to arrest Jesus away from the crowd
- The Jewish leaders got help from Judas to betray Jesus
- The Jewish leaders were made up of Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, scribes, chief priests, and elders
Mark 14:1-11
14 It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus[a] by stealth and kill him, 2 for they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.”
The Anointing at Bethany
3 While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,[b] as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. 4 But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. 7 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. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the good news[c] is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 When they heard it, they were greatly pleased and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download