“While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head.” (Mark 14:3)
A wider contrast could not be drawn between those that loved Jesus and those that hated Him than that one we read about in (Mark 14:3-9). We learn that at the time the chief priests were plotting Jesus’ death, a woman poured out her affection upon Him in the form of an alabaster jar of very costly perfume. The priests were filled with hate because they feared Jesus’ popularity with the people. However, a woman who must go unnamed was filled with love and affection and wanted Him to know that He was loved. We are not told the woman’s name but you can believe that Jesus knew her from before the foundation of the world, and predetermined that wherever the gospel is preached her love for Him would be a testimony to her. One unassuming woman lavished Jesus with so much love that it sparked a rebuke from His closest disciples. Those who sought first place among the people by proclaiming themselves holy desired the death of the holiest man that ever lived. What was the reason for such a stark contrast of hate and love for the same person? The condition of all those saved by God’s grace is recorded in Ezekiel 11.
The prophet by the same name received a vision about Israel’s rejection and restoration by God. They were rejected because of disobedience in the form of violence and idolatry. According to the prophecy they would be restored because God would give the people one heart, whereby they would serve Him singularly.
“ When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it. And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,” (Ezekiel 11:17-19)
When God said that He would give the people one heart, He meant that it would no longer be divided between the sinful ways of the nations and Him. "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) Two halves make a whole lot a nothin in God’s economy. The worst form of disobedience in Israel was compromise with the nations.
The religious leaders desired fame and fortune; an ordinary woman desired only Jesus. They bargained the life of the Son of God for 30 pieces of silver; she would gladly part with a years worth of wages to please her Lord. They sought a righteousness of their own making (Romans 10:3); her salvation was summed up in Christ.
Oh, for a heart that longs for Christ alone! May all those that love Him understand that there is nothing of more value on earth than a singular heart.
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