Kindness
We hear about the story of a man released from prison and greeted at the gate by members of the local church – he'd never experienced that kindness and hospitality before. It was a strange feeling for him to have somebody genuinely care about his wellbeing.
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of 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. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, 'Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor.' And they rebuked her harshly. 'Leave her alone,' said Jesus. 'Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.
Mark 14:3-8 [NIV]
In this gospel story a woman anoints Jesus with expensive perfume, Judas protests that this money would have been better spent on the poor. One of the lessons Jesus is teaching his disciples (and us) here is of the extravagance of grace – he wants his followers to have the same generous, loving heart that the woman does as this mirrors God's generous love towards us. The man in the story above experiences some of that generosity and it is life changing. How can you show that generosity to someone today?
Emma Higgins | |
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