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.

Mark 14:1-11

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. Mark 14:3

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 14:1-11.  Excerpts from the commentary's introduction and the first (of three) division (vv1-3):

• The title of this chapter of the commentary covering this text is "A Sacrifice of Extravagant Love," and the main idea for the entirety of the text (vv1-11) is "[t]rue followers of Jesus will not hesitate to worship Him with great love and great sacrifice."
• "In Mark 14:1-11 we see [two contrasting events]: (1) a sacrifice of extravagant love by a woman Mark allows to remain anonymous. And we also see two lives that could not stand in greater contrast when it comes to devotion to our Lord: an unnamed woman who gave her best and (2) a man named Judas who betrayed the Son of God."
• The title of the first division per the commentary is "Extravagant Acts of Love Will Be Public." 
• "Jesus was popular with the people so they would wait until the crowds had gone. However, things would proceed on God’s timetable, and Christ the Passover Lamb would be sacrificed for us right on time (1 Corinthians 5:7)."   
• "The scene shifts to Bethany, to Simon’s home. Jesus apparently had healed him of leprosy (Matthew 26:6). John 12:1 tells us the event happened “six days before the Passover,” so Mark’s account is a flashback. The lady here was Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, the latter of whom Jesus had raised from the dead (John 12:2). Simon may have been their father." 
• "Mary cared not one whit for cultural conventions. Jesus was her Lord and Master. She deeply loved Him and would have done anything for Him. She wanted everyone to know the inestimable value she placed on Jesus."

The text and the commentary challenges us to give our best to Jesus and the church - not our leftovers - our best.  We must remember the greatest commandment - to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:36-38).

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who saves.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your love and my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.