"She Has Done What She Could"

     The title of this post comes from a statement of Jesus found in Mark 14:8a. We’re told in verse 3 that a woman (Mary, John 12:3) came in with very expensive ointment and used it to anoint our Lord’s head. She met the indignation of some present before Jesus quickly came to her defense. As he spoke on her behalf we come to verse 8, which says, She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial.

     There were things she could not do. She could not remove the cup of which he was to drink shortly thereafter. She could not become a gospel preacher after his resurrection and the establishment of the church on Pentecost. She could not even avoid the ire of some of his closest disciples that day in Bethany. What she could do was use that expensive ointment to anoint his head and she did it. Is there anything for us to learn from her example? I believe so.

     There is something that every saint can do for the Lord. I’ve noticed a tendency among some Christians who cannot take part in public roles due to lack of God’s authorization or their own lack of confidence look upon themselves as a sort of second class Christian. That’s a shame. If you are one who tends to this unfortunate (and quite incorrect) viewpoint than take a moment to hear Paul by reading 1 Corinthians 12. If you are inclined to claim Paul speaks only of miraculous spiritual gifts ask yourself why the principles stated would not apply to all spiritual gifts, miraculous or otherwise?

     Now confront yourself with this question: what can you do for your Lord and your brethren? Do you believe that because you cannot be an elder, evangelist, adult Bible class teacher, song leader, or Lord’s table speaker that you have little to offer? Think again. How lacking the Lord’s church would be if it were only made up of those holding more public positions! Peter and Paul were immensely important to the Lord’s church, but so too was Tabitha and she had never preached a sermon or taught an adult Bible class in her life. She hadn’t the right to. Yet she was the quintessential servant to her brethren in Joppa (Acts 9:36-39). The mother of Rufus never stood before the congregation to lead singing or offered words before partaking of the Lord’s Supper. She hadn’t the right to. Yet her hospitality and care for Paul was such that he claimed she became as a mother to him (Romans 16:13). You cannot preach? You can be a servant to your brethren. You cannot serve as an elder? You can serve as an encourager to your brethren. You cannot teach an adult Bible class? You can teach everyone who observes you through your godly example. You cannot lead singing? You can seek to lead many souls to Christ.

     There is so much each of us can do if we would just put our minds to the doing! I came across a quote from Jim Jonas some time ago that I found striking. He said, “I am convinced that most Christians have tremendous stores of talent and skill buried beneath a pile of distraction, insecurity, and fear. We find excuses that seem reasonable to us, that don’t arouse an offended conscience, and we trot them out whenever obligation comes calling.” I firmly believe the only thing that limits my usefulness to the Lord is me. I just as firmly believe the same of you. Indeed, when all of the excuses spawning from the insecurity and distraction mentioned by Mr. Jonas are set aside, I believe there is very little that a child of God truly can’t do in their service to their Lord and brethren. Having the desire to do for the Lord and for brethren is a different matter altogether and a topic for a different time.

     Mary was commended because she did what she could. Nothing more was expected of her. Indeed, nothing more is expected of any of us. But know this: that much is expected. Mary did it because she loved Jesus and wanted to serve him. It’s that love that motivates us to discover, use, and increase our abilities for our Lord and brethren. When we grow to love Jesus as we should we’ll find that the boundaries of what we can do just keep expanding. This is because, in the final analysis, so many of our boundaries are purely self-imposed. What can we do for the Lord and our brethren? Whatever it may be let us resolve to do it with all our might.