Beautiful Things
Mark 14 records the moment where Mary of Bethany poured her oil out on Jesus’s feet. She came into the room where Jesus was and emptied the bottle over his feet, anointing him and worshipping him.
The disciples and those with him were offended by it. They argued such a gesture was a waste. But Jesus said in Mark 14:6 ESV, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.”
What Jesus Calls Beautiful
Jesus saw her doing something beautiful and honorable before him. What do you have to do for the king of the universe to call it beautiful? Remember, Jesus came from heaven to earth. He stood over the sea of glass, gazed at the splendor of myriads of angels adoring him. He came from absolute perfection in beauty.
Here he is sitting in a man-made home while this woman pours oil on his feet, and he says that is beautiful.
The others completely misunderstood what was happening. They saw it as a waste, but Jesus saw it as an unforgettable moment.
Misunderstood
It is entirely possible for you to do something that Jesus calls beautiful at the exact same time others (even religious leaders) call it a waste. Mary was able to face the judgment with Jesus standing in the flesh at her defense. We do not have that same advantage, but we have the Holy Spirit on the inside, and we have his voice to guide us.
To live in the deepest surrender and devotion to Jesus requires us to do beautiful things that others may not understand. This response only deepens our love. We get to press through the misunderstanding, offense, judgment, and more for the chance to move the heart of God and offer something beautiful. When we do, we can learn to hear the Shepherd’s voice of affirmation and love. He says, “that was a beautiful thing.”
Whatever beautiful thing you have in your heart to do, I encourage you to do it quickly. Make a lifetime of doing beautiful things before the father. Bring extravagant worship, reckless-love surrender, and vulnerable devotion. We win nothing by keeping ourselves uptight and put together before God, and we gain everything by emptying our oil at his feet.
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