Daily Devotional For Friday, October 23, 2026
Good morning Southside! I am following the One Year Chronological Bible reading suggestion and any Bible verses you see highlighted in bold (ex. John 3:16), means it is a link to that verse. All you have to do is click on the reference and it will take you to the verse online. Our daily devotional for today comes from the words of Jesus found in Mark 14:3-9. By the time we get to this point in Mark’s Gospel, everything is in place for Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, 6 illegal trials, scourging, crucifixion and death.
Jesus was not in the dark or ignorant about the events which were to happen. He had been telling His disciples for weeks that these events were going to happen and each time they did not get it. Can we fault them? Not really. This is not what they signed up for – to follow Jesus for 3 years 24/7 only to see Him die a horrible death on the cross. We understand why they fled and hid. The time table for this is during Passover Week on Wednesday prior to Friday, crucifixion Day.
Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a former leper that He had healed. This may have been Simon’s way to express his gratitude to Jesus for healing him. Bethany was also the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. While there, something shocking happened. Sometime during this meal a woman (John’s Gospel tells us her name was Mary) came with an expensive alabaster flask and poured its entire contents on Jesus. We know that the alabaster flask was worth 300 denarii, which was one year’s wage. To some this was a waste. They thought she should have sold it and given the money to help the poor.
Jesus rebuked them, not because she had poured it on Him in waste, but in what it represented: weeping and wailing at His death. John’s Gospel tells us that Judas was the most outspoken in anger against Mary for doing this (John 12:4-5). John also tells us that Judas had been embezzling funds and wanted this money to embezzle as well (John 12:6).
This may have pushed Judas to betray Jesus. Judas coveted money and he betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. During the Passover time, giving to the poor was a major theme and so Judas played on that so that he would not look out of place. Keep in mind the Gospel writers make it clear that Judas was not alone in this – all the disciples felt the same thing. I don’t think we should be harsh on the other disciples because they do not know what is coming and giving to the poor during Passover was expected.
Jesus reminded His disciples that the ointment poured on Him had been a service of love that was a foreshadowing of His death to come in 2 days. Jesus reminded His disciples of Deut. 15:11. In case you’re wondering, Jesus did teach about helping the poor. See Matt. 6:2-4; Luke 6:20-21; Luke 14:13, 21; & Luke 18:22. Jesus was affirming Mary’s unselfish act of worship. She held nothing back. The essence of worshiping Christ is to regard Him with utmost love, respect, and devotion, as well as to be willing to sacrifice to Him what is most precious, beloved and expensive to us. It means we are willing to give Him our “Isaac.”
Now Mary had not come to anoint Jesus’ body for burial, but to express her love for Him. I think one of the greatest tragedies in life is when we are moved to do something or say something to someone and we don’t. Love never leaves anything to chance. It is intentional and moves then, knowing that opportunity may never come again. You could die or they could die and in this case, Jesus would die.
Sometimes love for someone motivates us to do something that does not make sense to others and guess what? It doesn’t have to make sense to them and even if they criticize you, you can respond like Jesus, “Why are you criticizing me for doing something good for them for the glory of Jesus?” Jealousy, envy and greed love to show their ugly heads when others are honored and not them.
Jesus was not arguing against caring for the poor. Read His teachings in Matthew 25:37-40. It is impossible to be a true disciple of Jesus and not serve others. Jesus was rebuking the disciples either/or philosophy here. There is a both/and. We are to both worship the Lord and serve others. It is not either/or spirituality here. Mary did what she could and she did it with complete abandonment and sacrifice. That is all the Lord expects from any of us. Jesus said that what she did would always be remembered and guess what? It was and is.
Reflection Assignment: Do you give the Lord your best? Do you have your own “alabaster flask” or “Isaac” or are you withholding them from Him? When you have read this story in the past, were you critical of the disciples for criticizing Mary for doing this? Why or why not? If you were to do something spontaneous for the Lord that would shock everyone, what would it be and why?
Scripture To Meditate On: Mark 12:43-44, “Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. (44) For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on’” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, please forgive me when I hold back from You. You gave everything for me. I am so sorry when I am more like Cain than Abel. I want to be like Mary in today’s devotional. Please forgive me when I am apathetic and lackadaisical about my commitment to you and to others. I really want to fulfill Your commands in Matt. 22:37-40. Please forgive me when I judge others without knowing all of the truth or the situation. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly