Broken Jars – Part 2: A Radiant Offering
Mark 14:3-9, NLT – Jesus Anointed at Bethany
Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly. But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.
In a previous article, Broken Jars: A Faithful Offering, we examined how the gospel narrative of the woman and her jar of expensive perfume oil can help us self-examine our hearts. We can do this by reflecting on our willingness to let go of anything that may hinder us from being fully committed to God so we can carry out His will for our lives.
“I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” – Mark 14:9, NLT.
As another insight into this woman’s story, we can take further lessons by examining her boldness to do it in front of others. Her offering for Jesus radiates an example of what it means to be bold and glorify God in our actions. It demonstrates our responsibility as Christ’s followers to be light to the people around us. The vulnerability in her action shows a heart that was not only in submission to God but striking fearlessness by not allowing judgment from others to stop her from openly declaring her love for Jesus. By examining the boldness of the woman’s action as another dimension to her story, we can, in turn, ask ourselves:
- Are we willing to obey God’s calling despite any potential or inevitable criticism from the people around us?
- Are we willing to let our light shine before others so God may be glorified?
God has a purpose for our lives, and everything works together to reveal His love for each of us. In the inspiring Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs His followers to be light that reflects God’s glory to the world.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 5:14-16, ESV
This expectation to be light requires boldness and confidence in God’s ability to work through us. Undoubtedly, God desires to use us to reflect His love onto the world. We only need to play our part and be willing to participate. We are not meant to be cowardly and hide our identities as children of God. In fact, being timid in this responsibility denies others the love God desires to reveal through us.
However, taking bold steps for kingdom purposes will almost always be met with doubts from within. Whether the path of our journey to fulfilling God’s will is foggy, clearly illuminated, or somewhere in between, we will likely be faced with indecision and uncertainty at various points. Such feelings could be even more amplified when our internal doubts are combined with external criticism
Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly. – Mark 14:4-5, NLT
The woman’s actions were likely challenging even if the room was empty. Giving up such a valued item in a single moment is daring, and it’s even more daring that she did so in front of others, likely knowing she would be questioned and criticised. As we take steps of faith, we may encounter similar criticism from those around us, whether family, friends, or our communities. We can just as easily be guilty of this, being quick to give our opinions and critiques on the decisions and actions we see from others, especially ones contrary to our belief systems.
However, whether the doubt is sourced from within or externally, as servants of Christ, the only question we should ask which should influence our decisions and actions is:
Does this please God? As stated by Paul, an apostle and servant of Christ:
Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. – Galatians 1:10, NLT
Ultimately, only God’s opinion of us and His approval matters. In the case of this woman’s act of offering to Jesus, He clearly affirms her action.
But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? – Mark 14:6, NLT
The woman only needed her Lord’s approval to be assured she had not made a mistake. On the contrary, Jesus was delighted with what she had done! In the same way, our endeavours for the Kingdom of God should only need a single source of approval—from our Lord God, who has assigned our purpose.
God speaks through the Bible, His written Word, which instructs, guides, corrects, encourages and gives us everything we need to walk in the will of God. It also contains all the affirmation we need when walking in His will. Through the scriptures, we are reminded that any assignment God has placed on us, combined with our obedience will advance His Kingdom. For instance, the apostle Paul communicates the following to encourage God’s people in their labours.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. – 1 Corinthians 15:58, NLT
What an affirmation! This encouragement also applies to us in whatever context we are placed in the pursuit of God’s work. We can boldly seek His will, knowing that doing so earnestly will glorify God and further His Kingdom. Our focus should remain on God’s desire for us, and we can be assured He will bless our efforts in line with His will.
The awareness that only God’s opinion of us matters is a motivation to boldly pursue His kingdom assignments. We must obey and carry out our responsibility to shine our light for the world to see so that God can work through us and bring His hope to a world full of darkness. Jesus is the light that brings us out of our initial darkness. He sets the perfect example for us to follow; as the originator of light, we only have the privilege of reflecting His light.
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” – John 8:12, NLT
We live in a dark world that is against God’s message of love and hope. We are constantly faced with distractions designed to pull us away from God and from carrying out His purpose for our lives. That is why, as Christ’s followers, we should not be surprised when we face temptations that are contrary to the example Jesus has set for us. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life yet was unjustly punished. Therefore, following in Jesus’ footsteps will inevitably be met with some level of outcasting from the world. Like the woman’s offering of perfume oil for Jesus was met with rebuking from those who witnessed it, we should not be surprised if our deeds for the sake of the Kingdom of God are also met with similar or even more severe reactions. As Jesus states to His disciples, and which very much applies to all His present-day followers:
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. – John 15:18, NIV
However, regardless of how the world reacts, we can stand firm in knowing God has established us in this world for a purpose. God’s Word provides many instructions and reminders on our role as light, even in the inevitable challenges that will come from living in a corrupt world.
Another word of encouragement on this subject comes from apostle Paul when instructing believers to develop a Christ-like mindset to stand out from the world.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky – Philippians 2:14-15, NIV
As followers of Christ, the instruction to be set apart from the world will not be without its struggles. Due to the nature of the world, there will be contentions against this, which is intended to sow seeds of doubts in our minds about our identities as Children of God. However, the Word of God should remain our reference and a continuous reminder of our responsibility to shine the light of our good deeds on the world. This gives us victory over any battles we may face so we can be focused on pursuing God and not conform to the world’s standards.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. – Romans 12:2, NLT
The woman’s perfume oil offering to Jesus is an inspiring example. Her action to give up her possession worth a year’s wages was a public and intentional showcase of her love for Jesus, done regardless of critical gazes from onlookers. This is an example of what Jesus expects from His followers, choosing to acknowledge Him as Lord and to testify of Him regardless of what the world may say.
As Jesus states to His followers:
“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. – Matthew 10:32-33, NLT
As the woman demonstrates, our love for Jesus should radiate naturally. We should strive to be an active witness for Him in our words and deeds. There is no doubt we are called as children of God to be light; however, as a reflection on your intentionality to this call, ask:
- Are you willing to be obedient to this command?
- How do you talk about Jesus to others, if you do at all?
- Can you display your love for Jesus despite the criticism and whispers from the crowd around you?
It is also essential to recognise that part of our duty to be light is that we are mere reflectors of God’s light and can shine only because of Him. Therefore, our call to be light is not a pass for pride and arrogance, as we do not seek to shine to put ourselves on a platform or receive praise. We are to let God’s light shine, not ours. In actuality, we have no light in us because we are in darkness by ourselves. We can only shine in the light of God’s goodness because He enables us to do so when we walk with Him.
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. – Ephesians 5:8-9, NLT
How incredible that our good God can make us capable of reflecting His goodness and love. That’s the mercy of our awesome Creator, who redeems us from our sins and darkness, making us whole and new!
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! – 2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT
And here is something even more humbling; whether or not you choose to walk with God and be obedient to His calling, His will is going to be done either way. Whether we are willing to participate in it or not, God’s kingdom will come on earth. As Jesus declares:
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. – Matthew 5:18, NLT
God enables us by His grace to be light. We are nothing but fragile jars, and He shapes us in His hands so we can reflect His goodness to a world that desperately needs Him.
Paul puts it plainly when writing to the church in Corinth about his role as a preacher of the Gospel:
You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. – 2 Corinthians 4:5-7, NLT
So then, as followers of Christ, let’s receive the truth that God has a purpose for our lives and draw from His Word all the encouragement and approval we need to pursue our calling. Through the Holy Spirit, we are equipped with all we need; through us, God rescues people from darkness into light. He empowers us to walk like soldiers and proclaim His gospel of peace wherever we are placed in the world.
Like the woman with her perfume oil, the jar was broken to release a fragrance in the room that diffused around those who witnessed it. Taking that as an illustration of what is required of us, we can imagine ourselves breaking jars of timidity and allowing God to use us to spread knowledge of His love and salvation to the people around us.
But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. – 2 Corinthians 2:14, NLT
So don’t think you have nothing to give. We all have an offering that God desires to receive. God wants to use you to radiate His glory and the hope of eternal life to the world. There are people waiting for your purpose to be fulfilled and for you to walk in obedience so the glory of the Lord can be revealed through you. The Lord is your strength. Be bold, let your light shine, and diffuse that Christ-like fragrant offering!
If you don’t have the boldness to shine His light, pray for it. It’s God’s will that we represent Him in a world full of darkness. Like the woman with her jar of perfume, He will use whatever we are willing to offer. Walk with the confidence that God is by your side, and as His child, His light is in you. Remember that God will equip you with everything you need to carry out His purpose for your life.
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. – Philippians 2:13, NLT
In closing, take a listen to this wonderful worship song, capturing the surrender of boldly pouring your offering for Jesus! Pour My Oil by Legacy Nashville Music 🎵
