GRACE FOR TODAY Radio Message #545
Pastor
Don Fortner
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
2734 Old Stanford Road
Danville,
Kentucky 40422-9438
A GOOD WORK
DONE FOR THE SAVIOR Mark 14:3-9
Our Lord Jesus says, of
Mary’s humble anointing of him, “She hath wrought a good work on me.” This
good work which was performed by Mary might be most reasonably expected from
any believer.
Like
you and me, Mary had experienced the grace of God in Christ. This work which
she performed was only the spontaneous response of gratitude and love for the
grace of God she had experienced. It was but her reasonable service (Rom.
12:1-2). She had been given faith in Christ. The Lord Jesus revealed himself to
her and gave her the gift of faith. He chose her and graciously caused her to
choose him. The demons who tormented her and held her captive were driven from
her; and the Son of God established his throne in her heart. Her sins, which
were many, were all forgiven her. The Lord graciously revealed to her the
mysteries of the gospel. Mary alone seems to have known and understood how the
Lord Jesus would accomplish redemption by his death as our Substitute. With all
these things in her heart, Mary came to Simon’s house to anoint her Lord in
anticipation of his death and resurrection.
Yet, Mary’s loving devotion and sacrificial zeal drew an very
unexpected response from from hose who witnessed it (vv. 3-5). She must have
been shocked by the comments she heard. She only wanted, in some modest, but
public way to honor her Lord. The fact is, those who serve the Lord Jesus with
the most ardent, self-sacrificing devotion are often ridiculed and criticized
by those who ought to imitate their examples.
For her good work Mary was
severely censored by Judas, the church treasurer (John 12:4-6). All the
disciples followed Judas’ wicked lead and became indignant at what they
considered was Mary’s waste. They said, “To
what purpose is this waste?” (Matt. 26:8).
If
you are committed to Christ, if you are inclined to do some unusual for him,
just for his honor and his glory, for the interests of his kingdom, for the
furtherance of his gospel, simply because you love him, simply out of a deep
sense of overwhelming gratitude, do not expect the approval of either the
world, religious hypocrites, or even true believers. Whole-hearted devotion
exposes and condemns half-hearted religion. It stirs up the wrath of those
whose hearts are cold and indifferent. Real consecration to Christ is sure to
be criticized and mocked by those who know nothing about it.
Though her actions were criticized and condemned by others, even by her
friends, the Lord Jesus approved of, highly esteemed, and commended both
Mary and her work (vv. 6-9). Nothing else mattered to her. No opinion was important to
her but his. Because the Lord Jesus was pleased with Mary, she seems oblivious
to what anyone else had to say abut the matter. She did it just for him. They
really did not matter. Her faith in, love for, and devotion to the Son of God
gave her courage and strength. May God be pleased to give me grace to follow
the example of this blessed woman.
AMEN.