All For Jesus and Jesus For Us All

The crisis point comes to every one of us when it comes to following Jesus. We see it most clearly in Mark 14. In reading its words, we find out about those who are all-in for Him and those who have their doubts about Him.

The Savior is at a table in a house in Bethany. He had taken His leave from Jerusalem, seeking a respite from the buzz of Passover week. And, of course, He was now a marked Man, especially after His rampage through the Temple court.

The leaders and scribes there were still gathering up scattered coins and corralling loose animals when they hatched their plot to do away with the Son of David. They had no use for this King and would not allow Him to reign over them.

Out of town, Jesus tried to relax among friends. It soon became clear who saw Him for who He really is.

A woman named Mary, the sister of Martha as we learn in John’s gospel, came with an alabaster jar of pure nard. Such rare and sweet perfume cost her 300 days’ wages.  She promptly broke the container and emptied its contents upon Jesus.

She poured the nard upon His head in an act sort of like the application of the anointing oil to the high priest in Leviticus and referenced in the song of Psalm 133: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments” (Verses 1-2).

Though the fragrance filled the room in Bethany, the people present did not enter into union with the moment. Rather, the stink of division soon became pronounced.

Hearts Tested

This moment of passion, this reckless display of affection was lavish to the extreme. It was done in the same spirit of the widow woman with her two mites in Mark 12. Mary was giving her all to Jesus.

Those watching were stirred, some to disaffection, others to scorn, even one to betrayal: “Why has this perfume been wasted? Oh, what we could have been done for the poor!” Devotion to the point of such extravagance can strike different notes in those exposed to it.

People show great love and we can become ashamed over our lack of such feeling. Be careful when those feelings surface. The deficit motivation may run roughshod through you. Agitation could mow down what’s growing in the garden of your soul.

There’s an envy at work in deceptive, desperately wicked hearts. And the Savior addressed this as it simmered in His disciples.

“… 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” (Mark 14:6-7).

One of those who fumed at Christ’s rebuke was Judas Iscariot. He gave the Temple leaders the opening they were looking for. They obtained for themselves an ally in the inner circle of the Son. This man’s discontent drove him to sell out the Master for 30 pieces of silver.

Later in the chapter it would be Peter’s turn to face the discordant music that played inside of him. When confronted regarding his connection to Jesus, the Apostle denied knowing Him three times. It was something Jesus predicted would happen. Peter was sure he would play the man and go down with the ship even if the Jesus movement sank.

He had not the strength to push back when the shove about his identity was presented as he warmed himself by the fire with the soldiers and maids there. He was still wiping the sleep from eyes perhaps, for he did doze as Jesus wrestled in Gethsemane. Or, maybe his hands were still bloodied by the ear he sliced off in a frantic response to the Savior’s arrest.

The self-made righteousness Peter crafted crashed as it was doomed to do. It left him in tears. In that instant, the striking sense of grief he felt was significant.

Mary emptied herself in devotion. Peter became spent in the midst of failure. Share on X

Mary emptied herself in devotion. Peter became spent in the midst of failure. The affliction brought him so, so low. He had reckoned himself as first, now he plummeted to being the last.

This bottoming out made it so that Peter could only look up. “Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 18:12).

Chapter 21 of John relates the story of his restoration and his calling to serve the Savior. He and Jesus walked and talked and Peter was re-commissioned to feed the flock of God. He also learned this big lesson: “You, follow Me,” said the Master at the conclusion of their encounter on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Peter did just that over the rest of his life. He was the servant of the Lord and had his life taken from him for his ministry for Christ.

The Son Poured Out

Giving our all for Jesus – we cannot do it in our own strength. We have to take His yoke upon us, according to Matthew 11:28-30. We are weak and heavy laden. He gives us His rest and in that rest we work.

It is important to note the middle portion of Mark 14, the part describing Jesus and His wrestling in the Garden of Gethsemane. The weight of His mission to the Cross crushed Him as a man. The intensity of Satan’s attack stressed His whole being. He sweated drops of blood.

So began the pouring out of the Son for us all. He pleaded for a measure of relief.

“…My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. …  ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will’” (Mark 14:34-36).

The Son was being broken for the sins of the world. The firstborn of all Creation descended to the depths, taking upon His Person every last sin of every last and lost one. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

My sins, your sins, Peter’s denials – all of them were put upon Jesus. To what end? To release the sweet fragrance of life.

Wounded and crushed though He was, Christ emerged victorious. And in giving our all to Him, we are filled with His Spirit to perfume the atmosphere with the Beauty of His Holiness.

We just have to let ourselves be broken to receive and release His Presence. May we pray as He told us to:

“Father, Your will be done in us on earth as it is done in Heaven. Amen.”