“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain
Once upon a time a Sunday school teacher got a burden for a young man in his class and visited the young man at his shop. He told him the good news of the gospel of salvation and that young shoe salesman became one of the great pastors and evangelists of a generation, D.L. Moody.
Now I’m sure that Sunday school teacher accomplished many other things in his life but none more notable than walking into a shoe shop that day.
What an amazing “Why.”
There’s Martin Luther’s memorable “Here I stand, I can do no other” appeal before the Roman Catholic tribunal. Defacing cathedral doors with inflammatory messages might get you in trouble with religious folk but they may be just what is needed to ignite a reformation.
Six centuries later and we all can give thanks today he found his “why” and struck the first match.
At a pastor’s retreat one of the attendees noticed how a woman joyfully cleaned all the rooms each day. On the last day he found her in the bathroom scrubbing one of the toilets and thanked her. “How do you do such degrading work so happily?” he asked. “Oh no,” she relied with a noticeable spark, “I don’t have to do this, I get to do this!”
A beautiful “Why.”
For nearly 40 years I’ve watched my wife minister to me by doing things no wife should ever have to do for her husband. Not long ago I listened in on a phone conversation she was having with a family member. She told my wife, “One of the things I have watched you do over and over is to simply show up. To be there, whenever and wherever you’re needed.”
Her “Why” sings into eternity!
Let’s look at another.
Mary, the sister of Lazarus, is found in several places in the New Testament but in three of the four gospels (Luke shares a different occasion, a different woman, but an uncannily similar act of worship) we find her demonstrating her most notable “Why” the day she walked into the room where Jesus was reclining and poured costly perfume on his feet.
Mary’s“beautiful work” was to prepare Messiah for his burial. This is a work belonging only to her. It was a one-of-a-kind act of service in which she endearingly rose to the occasion (or bowed, in her case).
The thought struck me: we can’t do Mary’s noble task of preparing Christ’s body for burial but we can prepare his body for his return (Heb 10:25).
Two Marys and Salome went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus (Mark 16:1), but they found they were too late. Their anointing was not necessary because Christ Jesus was alive. They didn’t need to do Mary’s “beautiful work” because that was a one-off. Instead, they were given a new mandate to pound the ground with the news of the Savior’s resurrection, and every generation of disciples since are compelled to share that same empty-tomb news… with the added good news that he is coming back!
worthy v. worthless
A word. Just because we do stuff “in Jesus name” doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll have it memorialized on a building or a park bench in the New Jerusalem. There are “beautiful works” and there are “disposable works.” The difference is the source that drives it. Beautiful works put self on its knees and the body of Christ in the place of honor. Disposable works reverse the emphasis. We can cut our neighbor’s lawn but the minute we subtly draw attention to it on social media (posing next to a push mower, gesturing wiping sweat from our faces but smiling like we just did something special) it’s destined for the brush pile. You do know it’s possible to do some pretty great things in Jesus name and those things be burned up and lost in the end (1 Cor 3:11-15), right?
beautiful waste
What Mark does with this beautiful tableau is nothing shy of genius. The anointing at Bethany was actually a week earlier but Mark drops it here because he wants the readers to see the contrast between selfless worship and self-driven religion.
You know how the room reacts to Mary’s “waste of resources.” The Twelve, led by Judas, turn it into a church business meeting and vote against the whole affair. It didn’t make sense to their sensual minds. Judas especially, driven by greed and devilry, thought the whole thing was stupid and consequently showed his true colors.
Where do we next see Judas? That’s right. In the very next paragraph. Mark sets him in the most unflattering light, akin to Iago’s treachery to Desdemona’s innocence. I imagine the good John Mark spitting into his inkwell and gritting his teeth before putting pen to parchment. Gothic overtones. All black, at night, evil intent.
Nothingness.
Waste.
Incidentally, the word “wasted” in verse four is the same word translated “perdition” in John 17:12 with regard to Judas. Mark exposed him as destined for hellfire. It’s a cautionary tale in ALL CAPS for us: any work, act of service, effort, duty, ministry, offering, cause, collaboration, whatever, motivated by greed, self-promotion, self-indulgence, or internal pride, is burnt up and worthless.
Bottom line: if our “Why” isn’t Jesus, there’s no life in it.
In the next post, we’ll explore more deeply the idea of such beautiful, selfless, Mary-scented, Son-approved, life-giving works to the body of Christ and for the glory of God. Judas and his ilk don’t figure into it like this one, so let’s just wash that bad taste from our mouths and focus on a broken jar of perfume and a house infused with a hint of heaven. Mark still has much to say on the matter, so I hope you’ll be back.
Selah, beloved. Until then.
I would be so blessed if you would share me with your online communities! Thank you!
This reminded me of my dear friend named Mary , also. She had 2 adult children who developed similar cerebral degenerative diseases. Mary had osteoporosis and severe asthma but faithfully visited daily her children in nursing care facilities. Her faithfulness in the midst of suffering was amazing . I still have her letter where she wrote me that , “We never know how God is using our daily lives to speak to someone ” , as she shared Nehemiah 8:10 , ” The joy of the Lord is our strength. ” She then said, ” Many times I find someone who is having a greater burden than I have. And yet it is not a burden. It is a joy to be able to care for my children, and to see that their needs are met.” She was such an inspiration of one so yielded to the Lord . In a period of less than 6 months , the Lord took her daughter to heaven , then Mary and 2 days later after Mary’s homegoing , the Lord mercifully took her son to glory!
Keep sharing and blessing so many of us with your encouraging messages!
I read this through blurred vision, I gotta tell you. I started thinking about the verse in Hebrews where we are given some beautiful examples of the many of whom the world is not worthy. Your friend Mary certainly qualifies. Thank you for sharing her story, Beth. She was blessed with you in her life too, I’m sure if it. Thank you for your life of encouragement!
She was a faithful member in the church my dad pastored and raught in our Christian school. She had lost her husband to Parkinson’s disease , so whenever I feel overwhelmed I reflect on her grace-filled testimony. She always had a smile!!!
The angels long to look into such sacred matters as found in Mary’s testimony. Her story of triumph in the midst of great trial causes them to cover their mouths and watch reverently. Glory to the Lamb who is worthy of the reward for his suffering!
Spot on. When we have to make sure others know we did something good, we have replaced the blessings God had in store for us with the attention we craved.
Such an encouraging and convicting post. I love this quote and wrote it down, “Beautiful works put self on its knees and the body of Christ in the place of honor.” Humbled and hungry for that aroma!
Great big heart full of thanks, Kelli!
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the draft of your book…it ‘feels’ like Roberts’ “Make Haste, My Beloved”…and you know how much that book impacted me 😊
Thanks so much for visiting! Please join me again at the table of grace soon 🙂
{"id":null,"mode":"button","open_style":"in_place","currency_code":"USD","currency_symbol":"$","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/pasturescott.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/pasturescott.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":500,"top_media_type":"featured_image","featured_image_url":"https:\/\/pasturescott.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/6AE61027-DF72-4888-9F9D-7453A9F6D6E1-200x133.jpeg","featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"Click here to buy me a coffee \u2615\ufe0f Thank you!","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Pay","payment_request_label":"Call Me Pasturescott","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"Call Me Pasturescott","form_subtitle":null,"currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you for being a grace-filled supporter!","payment_confirmation_title":"Call Me Pasturescott","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}
This reminded me of my dear friend named Mary , also. She had 2 adult children who developed similar cerebral degenerative diseases. Mary had osteoporosis and severe asthma but faithfully visited daily her children in nursing care facilities. Her faithfulness in the midst of suffering was amazing . I still have her letter where she wrote me that , “We never know how God is using our daily lives to speak to someone ” , as she shared Nehemiah 8:10 , ” The joy of the Lord is our strength. ” She then said, ” Many times I find someone who is having a greater burden than I have. And yet it is not a burden. It is a joy to be able to care for my children, and to see that their needs are met.” She was such an inspiration of one so yielded to the Lord . In a period of less than 6 months , the Lord took her daughter to heaven , then Mary and 2 days later after Mary’s homegoing , the Lord mercifully took her son to glory!
Keep sharing and blessing so many of us with your encouraging messages!
I read this through blurred vision, I gotta tell you. I started thinking about the verse in Hebrews where we are given some beautiful examples of the many of whom the world is not worthy. Your friend Mary certainly qualifies. Thank you for sharing her story, Beth. She was blessed with you in her life too, I’m sure if it. Thank you for your life of encouragement!
She was a faithful member in the church my dad pastored and raught in our Christian school. She had lost her husband to Parkinson’s disease , so whenever I feel overwhelmed I reflect on her grace-filled testimony. She always had a smile!!!
The angels long to look into such sacred matters as found in Mary’s testimony. Her story of triumph in the midst of great trial causes them to cover their mouths and watch reverently. Glory to the Lamb who is worthy of the reward for his suffering!
Spot on. When we have to make sure others know we did something good, we have replaced the blessings God had in store for us with the attention we craved.
Always grateful for your feedback Jon. It means so much having you in my reading circle!
Such an encouraging and convicting post. I love this quote and wrote it down, “Beautiful works put self on its knees and the body of Christ in the place of honor.” Humbled and hungry for that aroma!
Great big heart full of thanks, Kelli!
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the draft of your book…it ‘feels’ like Roberts’ “Make Haste, My Beloved”…and you know how much that book impacted me 😊