The Things that Delight Jesus
A. What was going on during this time（1-2）
1 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2 “But not during the Feast,” they said, “or the people may riot.”
B. An encounter in Bethany
1) People thought it contradicted Jesus' teachings (3-5)
3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
2) Jesus was delighted (6-8a)
6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “ Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8a She did what she could.
3) The significance that everyone missed (8b-9)
8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.
Summary
We often lose sight of Jesus as we try to follow him. This is because we tend to focus on what others think and how we appear to them. Jesus values the personal relationship he has with each of us. The only way to please Jesus is to consider on a case-by-case basis what Jesus would want us to do and act accordingly; whether or not other people approve is irrelevant. As we live to please Jesus, we may discover that we are part of a much bigger plan than we ever imagined.
For Discussion
1) Why were people mistaken when they said, "Why this waste?
2) What characteristic of this woman delighted Jesus?