"SHE HATH DONE WHAT SHE COULD"

MARK 14:8

A. SETTING OF OUR TEXT
  1. Our Lord is entertained in the home of Simon the leper:
    1. Our Lord's frequenting the house of Simon seems indicated in the gospels - Matt. 17:25; 26:6; Mark 1:29; Luke 4:38
    2. The disciples shared the hospitality of Simon
  2. But Mary the sister to Martha and Lazarus:
    1. Held the spot - light in the scene
    2. She anointed the Lord with very costly ointment
  3. Criticism by the disciples:
    1. They looked upon the act by Mary as being none essential and outright wasteful
    2. But the Master rebuked them stating that it was an act of love to be memorialized in all ages
    3. he connected the anointing with his death and burial B. SHE HATH DONE WHAT SHE COULD
  4. The acceptable motive to Christian service is here revealed:
    1. Mary was prompted, not by vanity and ostentation, but by grateful love and deep appreciation
    2. This had been awakened both by His friendship, His teachings, and His compassionate kindness in raising their brother from the dead - John 11:22-42
    3. Let Christians consider what they owe their Master and Lord; thus measure their gifts to Him with a deep sense of humble gratitude
    4. "We love Him because He loved us first" - I John 4:19
  5. Mary's service indicates the natural mode of Christian service:
    1. Personal ministry - Mary did not send a servant; she came in person - this type of service ranks among the most commendable services rendered to God and men
    2. Substance - Mary gave costly perfume - all we have is His - I Chron. 29:11- 14; but the gift of the poor widow was just as acceptable to the Lord - Mark 12:41-44 C. THE TRUE MEASURE OF MARY'S SERVICE AND ITS APPROVAL BY THE LORD OF GLORY
  6. She did what she could:
    1. She gave the best of what she had
    2. This is an example worthy of universal imitation
    3. Our humble services will reach their highest point in doing what we are able to do; what a challenge to our gifts to the Lord and His cause. Examples: the rich young ruler was unwilling to do what he could - Matt. 19:16-22; the Levite and the priest were unwilling to do for the wounded man what they could have done - Luke 10:30-37
  7. How reasonable and just our God is:
    1. He does not ask of me to do for which I do not have the capacity to do; how many deliveries of outstanding talent have I admired; yet, I do not have the talent to do any of them to the glory of God
    2. God did not expect of the man with the one talent to do with the talent what the one did with the five talents - Matt. 25:24
    3. your saintly mother may never have been in the lime light as some are, but she did what she could to express her love to God and to her loved ones
    4. She planted the seed of love to God and men in yours lives - and that is a memorable deed; Examples: Lois the grandmother and Eunice the mother of Timothy; they could not preach like Paul, but they instilled unfeigned faith into the life of Timothy - 2 Tim. 1:3-5; Jochebed, the mother of Moses, could not lead a million slaves into the promised land, but she saved and preserved one of the greatest legislators of all times - Ex. 2:1-9
  8. Loved ones:
    1. Your darling mother has fallen asleep; she is resting from a life devoted to you and to the Lord
    2. You will miss her in the house; when meal time comes; at the family altar; you will miss her heart touching prayers for you
    3. But she did what she could and her labors shall not have been in vain; to see and meet you when Jesus comes will be a rich and eternal reward to a loving mother that has fallen asleep in Jesus


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