Mark 14 | Good, Good News
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Mark 14

Mark 14: 3-8 | What Is Jesus Worth To You?

What Is Jesus Worth To You?
Pastor Nathan Hernandez



“3 And while He [Jesus] was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her…”

Growing up in church, I distinctly remember the only people who would show any sort of emotion during worship were always those in the first row, and it was always a line of girls in dresses or the standard “church garb”, singing along, laughing, and seemingly enjoying the worship. Looking around to every other row of seats was a major contrast, where all you’d see were people standing stoically, hands to their sides or in their pockets. The most you’d see out of THAT crowd would be the occasional clap-along. Maybe. These were people who, I would say, were genuine Christians, genuine believers in Jesus.

In the text of Mark 14 above, we see that there were people in the room who knew who Jesus was. It’s more than likely that they knew of the things that Jesus had been doing, maybe even seen some of those miracles themselves. There’s even commentary that says at this particular event, some of the disciples themselves were there, if not most of them; People who have devoted their lives to following Him, and have encountered with their very lives the power of Jesus. 

Yet, in a room filled with people who knew Jesus and even knew that He was the Messiah they had been waiting for their whole lives…the only one who truly recognized what Jesus was truly worthy of was this woman who came with one of the most valuable things people of this time and region had, and despite its earthly value, she proceeded to just break it open and pour it out over Jesus with no shame or second thought… and the people scolded her for it. 

True worship is willing to give everything


Church, when you see the true beauty of Jesus, when you see what He is truly worthy of… your worship of Him will look significantly different than that of the average believer. True worship is willing to give everything… to lay everything before Him no matter the cost; even the cost of your comfort, of “looking silly”, and the approval, opinions or thoughts of others. People will scold you for how you worship, and how you live for Him when it challenges them to reach higher than where they are at in their walk. However, don’t be shaken or allow that to hinder what you know Jesus is worthy of. He is for you, He fights for you, and longs for you to continue getting deeper revelations of who He is. He will honor your offering of extravagant worship. 

“6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

Jesus honors our time | Mark 14:3-9



“And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they scolded her. But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her."”
Mark 14:3-9

How hard can it be to have time on our own with The Lord, right? Things at every corner of our world are pulling for our attention. Phones, social media, current news, jobs, household tasks, family, and more. It’s so easy to say, “I’ll just reply to this text real quick” or “once I finish this task I can focus on The Lord.” Then before we know it, an hour has passed and we have been genuinely sucked in- again.

Whenever you say “yes” to one thing, you are saying “no” to another.

Whether it feels like it or not, we all have free time. Some more or less than others, but it’s there. It’s what we do with that free time that counts.; what we say “yes” to. It’s the time of your day or week that you could freely give to whatever you choose.
And honestly, most of us have said yes to too much. In the name of productivity we fill up our schedule.

Somewhere along the way, we got the idea that busy equals successful.

Somewhere along the way, we got the idea that busy equals successful.


The woman with this jar of oil, has shown us exactly what our yes should go towards. And when she does this, Jesus honors her time. The other men at the table are huffing and puffing disapproval and Jesus tells them this, “leave her alone...” Another version says, “why are you bothering her?”
Not “why has she interrupted us?” (Because she definitely did interrupt them)
No, her time- her gift- was honored by the Most High. And her gift has never been forgotten. Not by us and certainly not by the One to whom it was given.

What will get your time today?
What are some things in your life that need to take a back seat so you can give yourself, your time, unreservedly to the Father?

Jesus gives an offering | Mark 14




Mark 14:3–9 (ESV)

And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded herBut Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

Mary’s Offering...
1. Pure. 
2. Costly. 
3. Broken.
4. Poured out.

It didn’t just cover Jesus it filled the room.
  • It was Beautiful
  • It was Remarkable
  • It was Memorable

Fragrant offerings are often criticized. 
There will always be somebody who will say your offering to Jesus should be spent in another way.”

“In her offering, she was preparing a place for his purposes to be carried out.”

Mark 14:32–42 (ESV)
32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Jesus’ Beautiful Offering
1. Pure
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT) God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

2. Costly
Destiny ain’t always easy.
Jesus paid full price.

1 Peter 1:18–19 (NLT) 18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

3. Broken
The garden prepared him for the grave.

4. He was poured out.

Mark 14:22–25 (ESV)
22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”