Mark 14:6-9 6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
Key verse is verse 8. She hath done what she could
Jesus was in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat to eat, a woman came in with an alabaster box of perfume, which was very expensive. Some scholars think it was probably worth a years wages. She broke the box, and poured the perfume on Jesus' head. Some there, were complaing, because she poured the perfume over Jesus' head. They were saying that she could have sold the perfume and given it to the poor. Most scholars, believed that the woman was Mary. As they complained, Jesus told them to leave her alone, she had done what she could.
(illustration) When you go to a cemetary, you can look at the tombstones, and most will have the date they were born, and a dash, and the date they died. Example 1942-1998. The important thing in this dash, represents what we have done with our alloted time on earth. The dash represents what we do with our lives.
2nd Chronicles 21-20 (NLT) 20 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. No one was sorry when he died. They buried him in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery.
Isn't that said. I hope no one ever says that about me, no one was sorry when he died.
(illustration) Fanny Crosby, who wrote over 8000 gospel songs, was blinded due to an accident at six weeks old. Some of the songs she wrote, were , Blessed assurance, redeemed, near the cross. When she died, she requested they put on her tombstone SHE HATH DONE WHAT SHE COULD.
We should ask ourselves this question, have we done our best.
Here are some ways to do what we can.
1. WE CAN ENCOURAGE OTHERS.
Several years ago, I heard a sermon on encouragement, and they played the song " thank you for giving to the lord"
When I got home, I sent a letter to one of my Sunday School teachers that I had, when I was a child.
I wrote that I just wanted to thank her for all the lessons she had taught.
The next week, i received a letter from her, thanking me for the encouragement, that she was going through a difficulte time, and that really encouraged her. We can all encourage one another.
2. WE CAN PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER.
Eph. 6:18 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
(illustration) Charles Spurgeon once told of a young man asking him , why he had so much success in his preaching, and Charles took him donw to the basement of the church, and showed him some of his congregation donw on their knees in prayer. He called them his prayer warriors. His church in England, had over 5000 members. There is power in prayer.
WE can all pray for each other, our church, and intercede for the sick and hurting in our community.
3. WE CAN GIVE TO GOD
(ILLUSTRATION) There was a young boy in church for the first time. He was an orphan, and someone took him to church. When they passed the offering plate around, he didn't have any money to put in it, so he thought a moment, and took the collection tray, and put it on the floor and stood in it, and said, "Jesus, I don't have any money to give you, so Jesus, I give you me.
That is our best gift to Jesus, give our lives to Him.
4. WE CAN BE FAITHFUL TO HIM.
matthew 25:21 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
5 WE CAN IDENTIFY WITH HIM
Mark 8:38
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
We can let others know , that we are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(illustration) Suppose That when I were dating, I told my girlfriend that I would marry her, if we didn't tell anybody. We would go our separate ways during the day, and could be together at night, but not let anyone know. I don't think that would go over to well, do you. That is how we treat Jesus, if we don't identify with Him, and let others know we are His followers.
6. WE CAN WORSHIP HIM
Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name
We worship Him, for who He is,, We praise Him for what He has done for us.
Mary did her best for Jesus, and we can do the same.
