Key Thought

Like Jesus does so often in his earthly ministry, he protects a vulnerable person from criticism and attack and also finds a way to affirm and bless that person. He emphasizes the good this woman has done. May we be willing to do the same to others who are generous, kind, and loving to the Lord Jesus!

Today's Prayer

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Gracious Father, open my eyes and help me see those who are doing good things in the name of Jesus. Use me to affirm their work and bring them a blessing. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

It was now only two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and teachers of the law were trying to find a way to arrest Jesus without the people seeing it. Then they could kill him. They said, "But we cannot arrest Jesus during the festival. We don't want the people to become angry and cause a riot." Jesus was in Bethany. He was eating in the house of Simon the leper. While Jesus was there a woman came to him. The woman had an alabaster jar filled with very expensive perfume. This perfume was made of pure nard. The woman opened the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus' head. Some of the followers there saw this. They became upset and complained to each other. They said, "Why waste that perfume? That perfume was worth a full year's work. It could be sold and the money could be given to poor people." And they criticized the woman strongly. Jesus said, "Don't bother the woman. Why are you troubling her? She did a very good thing for me. You will always have poor people with you. You can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. This woman did the only thing she could do for me. She poured perfume on my body. She did this before I die to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth. The Good News will be told to people in all the world. And in every place where the Good News is told, the story of what this woman did will also be told. The thing she has done will be told and people will remember her." Then one of the twelve apostles went to talk to the leading priests. This was the follower named Judas Iscariot. Judas wanted to give Jesus to them. The leading priests were very happy about this. They promised to pay Judas for doing this. So Judas waited for the best time to give Jesus to them.

— Mark 14:1-11 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.