Devoted Sacrifice

And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”
Mark 14:3–9
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Devoted Sacrifice
Acts of devotion touch us. A child caring for their aging parent, a teacher sacrificing her evenings to tutor a struggling student. We can’t help but be moved. In the account of the woman and the alabaster flask, we witness a beautiful act of devotion. She anoints Jesus with expensive ointment, preparing Him for His burial. Her actions, though criticized by others, reflect a deep love and focus on Christ. She sacrifices something valuable, not for recognition, but out of pure love for her Savior. This woman's example challenges us today. How can we show our devotion to Jesus? Through prayer, we connect with Him, laying our burdens and joys at the foot of His cross. Through acts of service, we reflect His love to those around us. Jesus now stands at the Father's throne, interceding for us as our Savior. Let us follow the woman's example, dedicating our lives to Him in prayer and service. Our sacrifices, though they may seem small, are precious in His sight. Let our devotion be a testimony of our love for Jesus, who sacrificed everything for us.