Tag Archives: Mark

Marching into Mark, Passage, Meditation, Coloring, Music and Video

Marching into Mark Chapter Five

Marching into Mark Chapter Five

(c)2023 M. Christine Wildman

Marching into Mark Registry,
the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 72, March 13 )

On Facebook, you can join us at Itty Bitty Bible Study Group.

Passage
Mark Chapter Five

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

The Images that I use are from Knowing Jesus and are available as downloads in every format that I can imagine for screen savers and wallpapers.

  • Mark 5 (some cross referencing in Matthew 8 and 9)
    • Mk 5:1-20 Gadarene or Gerasene Demoniac
      • vs 1-2 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes.[a] As soon as He got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met Him. 
      • Description:
        • He lived in the tombs. 
        • No one was able to restrain him anymore—even with chains
        • because snapped off the chains and smashed the shackles.
        • No one was strong enough to subdue him.
        • And always, he was crying
        • out among the tombs and in the mountains
        • and cutting himself with stones.
        • recognized Jesus
        • For He had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
        • 7 “What do You have to do with me,[b] Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg[c] You before God, don’t torment me!”
        • named Legion
      • Negotiation
        • begged to be send into a herd of pigs – about 2000
        • Pigs, demon possessed, committed suicide.
      • Results
        • The pig herders ran off and told the town
        • ex-possessed man now dressed and in his right mind, next to Jesus.
        • eyewitnesses repeated the story
        • townsfolk 17 Then they began to beg Him to leave their region.
      • He did not let him, but He said to him, Go home to your people and report them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you. Mark 5:19
      • The rest of the story
        • the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging Him to be with Him.
        • given a mission – go back and tell
        • 20 So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.
        • Mindfully Meditating on Matthew Chapter 8
    • Mk 5:21-24, 35-42 Jairus’s daughter healed
      • Jairus came and begged Jesus to come and heal his daughter
      • 24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against Him.
      • “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher anymore?”
      • 36 But  Jesus  said, , “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.”
      • 42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. (She was 12 years old.) At this they were utterly astounded.
    • Mk 5:24-34 Women that touched His garment
      • 24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against Him.
      • Woman suffering for 12 years (issue of blood made her unclean)
        • 26 had endured much under many doctors.
        • She had spent everything she had
        • and was not helped at all.
        • On the contrary, she became worse.
      • 28 For she said, “If I can just touch His robes, I’ll be made well!”
      • Immediately healed
      • 30  Jesus said, “Who touched My robes?”
      • 34 “Daughter,” He said to her, “your faith has made you well.[h] Go in peace and be free[i] from your affliction.”

A place to see the four gospels compared is from Synoptic Gospel Parallels.

Mindful Meditating

  1. choose a verse,
  2.  set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
  3.  example: Mark 5:28
  4. repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

  • 28 For she said, “If I can just touch His robes, I’ll be made well!”
  • IF I can just touch His robes, I’ll be made well!
  • If I CAN just touch His robes, I’ll be made well!
  • If I can JUST touch His robes, I’ll be made well!
  • If I can just TOUCH His robes, I’ll be made well!

and so on.  This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

Songs for Meditation

He Touched Me – Joey + Rory

This is the Kingdom – Elevation Worship

We Declare that the Kingdom of God is Here – Ron Kenoly

Coloring – I use coloring to help me focus on the fullness of a verse.

Mark Coloring page – Ministry to Children – simple enough to finish in an hour or less

Coloring pages for Jairus’s daughter story by Connect Us

Quick Questions – if  you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.  Some thoughts to dig deeper.

    1. Why do you think the demons did not want to be sent out of that region?
      1. I didn’t find great references to that, but I found GotQuestions starts by addressing why only one of two(spoken of in Matthew) and if you go to the additional resources, you can find more information about this account.
    2. Why did Jesus know power had gone out of Him?
      1. GotQuestions has  some insight into the Women with the Issue of Blood.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links:

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Older woman with shades of coral in jewelry and sweater, glasses, silver and brown hair.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Marching into Mark Chapter Three

Marching into Mark Chapter three

(c) 2023 M. Christine Wildman

Marching into Mark Registry,
the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 65, March 6)

On Facebook, you can join us at Itty Bitty Bible Study Group.

Passage
Mark Chapter Three

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

The Images that I use are from Knowing Jesus and are available as downloads in every format that I can imagine for screen savers and wallpapers.

  • Mark 3
    • Mk 3:1-6 Healing on the Sabbath and the consequences
      •  Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do what is good or to do what is evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent.
      • Hand is Healed
      • Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.
    • Mk 3:7-12 Ministering from a boat
      • 10 Since He had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward Him to touch Him.
      • 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, those possessed fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”
    • Mk 3:13- 19 the 12 apostles
      • 14 He also appointed 12—He also named them apostles[b]—to be with Him, to send them out to preach,
      • 15 and to have authority to[c] drive out demons.
      • names all twelve
    • Mk 3:20-21 Family opinion
      • 21 When His family heard this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, “He’s out of His mind.”
    • Mk 3:22 – 26 Casting out Demons
      • 22 The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul in Him!” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons!”
      • 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
    • Mk 3:27 – 30  Blaspheming the Holy Spirit
      • 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”[j]
    • Mk 3:31-35 Finishes the topic about his family
      • 31 Then His mother and His brothers came, and standing outside, they sent word to Him and called Him.
        • Remember – 21 When His family heard this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, “He’s out of His mind.”
      • True Family of God
        • 33 He replied to them, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” 
        • 34 And looking about at those who were sitting in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 
        • 35 Whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”

 

Mindful Meditating

  1. choose a verse,
  2.  set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
  3.  example: Mark 3:35
  4. repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

  • 35 Whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”
  • WHOEVER does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.
  • Whoever DOES the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.
  • Whoever does THE will of God is My brother and sister and mother.
  • Whoever does the WILL of God is My brother and sister and mother.

and so on.  This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

Songs for Meditation

The Family God – Bill Gaither

This is the Kingdom – Elevation Worship

We Declare that the Kingdom of God is Here – Ron Kenoly

Coloring – I use coloring to help me focus on the fullness of a verse.

Mark Coloring page – Ministry to Children – simple enough to finish in an hour or less

no other coloring pages, I’m sorry

Quick Questions – if  you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.  Some thoughts to dig deeper.

  1. What was so important about healing on the sabbath?
    1. GotQuestions has an excellent discussion on this.
  2. Why did Jesus tell demons to be silent?
    1. No one really knows, but there are some great discussions on Biblical Heremuetics
    2. I refer to Mark 1:45 as a reason.
  3. What was Jesus saying about family when He pointed to everyone around Him?
    1. There is a great, deeper dive into this at Understanding that will enlighten and challenge you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links:

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Older woman with shades of coral in jewelry and sweater, glasses, silver and brown hair.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Marching into Mark Chapter Two

Marching into Mark Chapter two

(c) 2023 M. Christine Wildman

Marching into Mark Registry,
the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 65, March 6)

Passage
Mark Chapter Two

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

The Images that I use are from Knowing Jesus and are available as downloads in every format that I can imagine for screen savers and wallpapers.

  • Mark 2 (cross referenced with Matthew 9)
    • Mk 2:1-12 – Paralytic Man comes through the roof
      • When He entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that He was at home.
        • So many people gathered together that there was no more room,
        • Then they came to Him bringing a paralytic, carried by four men.
        • THEY CLIMBED ON THE ROOF, TORE IT OPEN ENOUGH FOR A MAN AND A MAT AND LOWERED HIM DOWN!!!
        • Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven.”
      • Scribes and Pharisees got upset
        •  “Why does He speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
        • IT WENT AGAINST EVERYTHING THEY WERE TAUGHT
        • 10 But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, He told the paralytic, 11 “I tell you: get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
    • Mk 2:13 Levi called – went immediately
    • Mk 2:15-17 Dinner at Levi’s – snooping Sadducees and Pharisees
      • 16 When the scribes of the Pharisees[e] saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat[f] with tax collectors and sinners?”
      • “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do need one. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
    • Mk 2:18- 22 Why don’t they fast?
      • 18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees[g] were fasting. People came and asked Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
      • “The wedding guests[h] cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast.
      •  20 But the time[i] will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.
        • Then the wineskin analogy – hitting the OLD religious ways again.
    • Mk 2:23-28 What’s the Sabbath about
      • disciples pick some grain on the sabbath –
        • 24 The Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
      • Jesus brought up the AMAZING KING DAVID – and reminded them he ate the bread for priests.
      • 27 Then He told them, “The Sabbath was made for[k] man and not man for[l] the Sabbath. 
      • 28 Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

For more information go to Mindfully Meditating in Matthew chapter 9

Mindful Meditating

  1. choose a verse,
  2.  set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
  3.  example: Mark 2:5
  4. repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

  • Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
  • SEEING their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, Son your sins are forgiven.
  • Seeing THEIR faith, Jesus told the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven.
  • Seeing their FAITH, Jesus told the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven.
  • Seeing their faith, JESUS told the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven.

and so on.  This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

Songs for Meditation

This is the Kingdom – Elevation Worship

We Declare that the Kingdom of God is Here – Ron Kenoly

Coloring – I use coloring to help me focus on the fullness of a verse.

Mark Coloring page – Ministry to Children – simple enough to finish in an hour or less

Jesus heals the paralytic man by Connect Us

Quick Questions – if  you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

    1. Why did Jesus call the paralytic man Son?
      1. Biblical Hermeneutics has a very good explanation on this.
    2. What did Jesus mean with “I didn’t call the righteous but sinners”?
      1. BibleRef gives a clear observation as well as tying it back into the paralytic’s forgiveness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links:

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Older woman with shades of coral in jewelry and sweater, glasses, silver and brown hair.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Marching into Mark, Passage, Meditation, Coloring, Music and Video

Marching into Mark Chapter One

Marching into Mark Chapter One

(c)2023 M. Christine Wildman

Marching into Mark Registry,
the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 65, March 6)

Passage
Mark Chapter One

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

The Images that I use are from Knowing Jesus and are available as downloads in every format that I can imagine for screen savers and wallpapers.

  • Mk 1:1 What Mark is talking about
    • The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of GodJesus Christ the Son of God Mark 1:1
  • Mk1:2- 3 John the Baptist – Fulfillment of Prophecy
    • As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:[a]
    • Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You,
      who will prepare Your way.[b]
    • A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
      Prepare the way for the Lord;
      make His paths straight![
  • Mk 1:4-8 What John Did
    • John came baptizing[d] in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance[e] for the forgiveness of sins.
    • John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist
    • and ate locusts and wild honey. 
    • He was preaching: “Someone more powerful than I will come after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals. 
    • I have baptized you with[f] water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
  • Mk 1:9- 11 John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan
  • He will Baptize you with the Holy Spirit
    • Heavens open,  spirit like a dove
    • A voice from heaven said:
    • You are My beloved Son;
      I take delight in You!
  • Mk 1:12-13 Temptation in the Wilderness
    • 12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 
    • 13 He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted by Satan. 
    • He was with the wild animals, and the angels began to serve Him.
  • Mk 1:14 Jesus to Galilee and John to Prison
    • 14 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news[h][i] of God:
  • Mk 1:15 FULFILLED
    • 15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!”
  • Mk1:16-20 Calling the Disciples
    • Simon and Andrew, James and John
    • immediately left their ships
  • Mk 1:21-21 Taught in the Synagogue
    • 22 They were astonished at His teaching because, unlike the scribes, He was teaching them as one having authority.
  • Mk 1:23-28 Dealing with an Unclean Spirit
    • 24 “What do You have to do with us,[m] Jesus—Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
    • Jesus said “Be quiet,[n] and come out of him!”  and he did.
    • 27 Then they were all amazed,
    • 28 News about Him then spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.
  • Mk 1:29-31 Healed Simon Peter’s Mother-in-law
  • Mk 1:32- 34 many delivered from unclean spirits, healed from diseases
    • But He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
  • Mk 1:35-39 After praying, went to all of Galilee preaching
  • Mk 1:40-44 Jesus heals the man with skin disease (leprosy in other versions)
    • 42 Immediately the disease left him, and he was healed.
    • Tell no one, go, give the offering to the priests
  • Mk 1:45 He(the healed man) wasn’t silent
    • 45 Yet he went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news, with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But He was out in deserted places, and they would come to Him from everywhere.
  • the time is fulfilled, the Kingdom of God is here. Repent and Believe the Gospel
  • Mindfully Meditating in Matthew 3 or MMM3
  • MMM4

Mindful Meditating

  1. choose a verse,
  2.  set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
  3.  example: Mark 1:15
  4. repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

  • 15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.
  • THE time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.
  • The TIME is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.
  • The time IS fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.
  • The time is FULFILLED, and the kingdom of God has come near.

and so on.  This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

Songs for Meditation

This is the Kingdom – Elevation Worship

We Declare that the Kingdom of God is Here – Ron Kenoly

Coloring – I us coloring to help me focus on the fullness of a verse.

Mark Coloring page – Ministry to Children – simple enough to finish in an hour or less

Jesus in the Desert Coloring page by Drawn and Creative

Quick Questions – if  you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

  1. Who is the voice of one crying in the Wilderness?
    1. Got Questions discusses this from Isaiah and how it applies to our lives today.
  2. Why did Jesus tell the unclean spirits to keep silent?
    1. The Gospel Coalition goes into great depth about the whole concept of Jesus revealing AND concealing Himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links:

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Older woman with shades of coral in jewelry and sweater, glasses, silver and brown hair.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

2018 Lent day 3 – 2/24/2023

Lent Week One

We have a facebook group set up to follow and discuss – 40 days of Lent!

Lent Day 3 – What can I give?

What Can I give Him? a sweet version!
Broken and Poured out – Steve Green

Scripture
The Story of “Mary” needs to be seen from all four gospels in my opinion.

From freebibleimages

John

John 12:1-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Anointing at Bethany
12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
(snip)
7 Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of My burial. 8 For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

Mark

Mark 14:8-9 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 She has done what she could; she has anointed My body in advance for burial. 9 I assure you: Wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Luke

Luke 7:36-50 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Much Forgiveness, Much Love
36 Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
37 And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of fragrant oil
38 and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil.

Then, the heart of the pharisee is exposed!

39 When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching Him—she’s a sinner!”
40 Jesus replied to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
“Teacher,” he said, “say it.”
41 “A creditor had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, and the other 50. 42 Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.”
“You have judged correctly,” He told him.
44 Turning to the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair.
45 You gave Me no kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing My feet since I came in.
46 You didn’t anoint My head with olive oil, but she has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.
47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.”
48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

This one is a little different – pouring the oil on his head…and it’s not at the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus…though, it is at the house of Simon…one who had a serious skin issue…is this the same Simon that Luke tells us is the pharisee that has an issue with her gift?
Matthew

Matthew 26:6-13

Devotion:
1. FORGIVEN! Whether this is two women, or both Mary – the woman was a sinner. Even more important, she was a forgiven sinner!
Jesus talks about how much does one love? Gratitude depends on the value placed upon the gift. Outwardly, this woman was a prostitute, a very outward sinner. Some say this could be Mary Magdalene…I don’t know. That’s not the point of my devotion. Inwardly, she was an adoring follower, and that love demanded action!

2. The costLuke 14:25-35, Luke 18 – the rich young ruler, Phil 3:7-8 – Paul.
Jesus tells us to count the cost…to give everything. This woman gave probably her most expensive possession.  I think perfumed oil is probably a tool of the trade of a prostitute.(Proverbs 7:17). This woman gave up her livelihood to anoint Jesus in appreciation for what HE had done for her!
This could also be a statement that she was never going to go back into that business again…a statement of a life change. Not easy for a woman in Jesus’ day that has no other options! She gave it ALL!

I’ve been asked “should we tithe now, or is that old testament?” My response?
“Oh, no, we don’t tithe 10%, because yes, that is Old Testament. Now, we have to give 100%! Now we know it’s ALL His!
I thought this verse fit here very nicely!

1 John 2:15-16 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
A Warning about the World
15 Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. 16 For everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world.

3. Humility and Gratitude.
This woman, known to be a prostitute and used to haveing control over the men, humbles herself before Jesus, not only uses her expensive perfume, but BREAKS the alabaster jar that contains it. She is so intent on showing her gratitude to Jesus, she can’t even wait for the oil to run out! Is she aware of those around her making comments? OF COURSE! She is used to being ridiculed in public (possibly by the very same ones that came to her in secret). She doesn’t care. She just wants to be at Jesus’ feet, and thank Him, and give him all that she has.
Remember that Jesus showed humility by washing the feet of the disciples in the Upper Room. This is the position of a servant, who is considered less than human. This woman, in her gratitude, put herself in this HUMBLE position.

I am drawn to all the women named Mary, because my first name is Mary. One thing that I have drawn from all of them is to say YES to no matter what God calls you to do, no matter how much it costs, and no matter how others respond.

  1. What does this devotion speak to you? Are you a sinner and need to come to Christ? Wiki How gives a very clear understanding of How to Accept Jesus.

2. Are there possessions in your life that are more important than Jesus? I don’t think that Jesus was saying that everyone has to sell all that they have to come follow him, when he spoke to the Rich Young Ruler(Luke 18) – he could see his heart. What is in YOUR heart? Matthew 10:37-39

3. How can you show Jesus Gratitude for all HE has done for you? here’s an idea:

And, here’s a sweet song….
Broken Beautiful by Ellie Holcomb

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

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