Mark 14:8 She has done what she could: she is come beforehand to anoint my body to the burying. I. THE INCIDENT HERE RECORDED COMPRISED THE CONDUCT OF A CERTAIN WOMAN ON A PARTICULAR OCCASION, TOGETHER WITH THE TREATMENT WHICH SHE RECEIVED; first, from some of the persons present, and secondly, from Jesus Himself. Those present, not having the same affection and veneration for Jesus which the woman had, found fault with her conduct. But what treatment did she receive from Jesus? "And Jesus said," etc. Here we see in the first place, how our Saviour defended the woman, and reproved and exposed those who had blamed her. Let us notice also in the second place, that Jesus not only defended the woman, but even praised and commended her. II. TO DRAW FROM THIS INCIDENT SOME INSTRUCTIVE INFERENCES. 1. We may hence infer that those works which Jesus Christ accounts to be "good" are such as spring from faith in, and love to Him. 2. Such good works, such acts of love and faith, will not always, nor even in general, obtain the favour and applause of the world. To the world the good works of the Christian are seldom either intelligible or gratifying. Propose, for instance, to worldly persons to join with you in supporting some charity at a distance; they will tell you how it is abused and perverted, and that there are poor at home to whom we are required to attend. Thus selfishness and avarice plead their cause, and lead men to evade their plainest duties. 3. We may infer from the passage before us that those "good works," those fruits of faith and love, which the world misunderstands, misrepresents, and censures, are yet graciously noticed, and favourably accepted by Jesus Christ. My brethren, what encouraging and consolatory reflections are these to all such as are endeavouring to serve the Lord Christ, and to be fruitful in good works! Regard not the sneers and reproaches of ungodly persons. Behave to them with meekness and kindness. Overcome their evil with good. (Edward Cooper.) Parallel Verses KJV: She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.WEB: She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying. |
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