12 Days of Christmas: Day Nine
"She has done a beautiful thing to me." Mark 14:6
Are you a unique-gift giver? Do you know someone who always gives special, one-of-a-kind gifts? Have you ever received a gift you never imagined receiving?
A few days ago I talked about a woman who gave Jesus a special gift at a dinner-party. She anointed His feet with perfume and her tears. The host was disgusted with her act of worship, but Jesus appreciated it. He understood what she was doing and why she was doing it.
A similar story is told in Mark 14. This may have been the same woman at the same dinner but told from a different point of view; or it may have been at a different time. We don't know for sure, but I'd like to focus on what Jesus has to say, and His reaction is similar in terms of accepting the woman's gift, but His words are directed toward His disciples. They criticize her for being wasteful of expensive perfume that could have better uses, but Jesus is focused on her thoughtfulness. We pick up the story as it is told in Mark 14:4-8:
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me...She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare me for my burial."
Unique gifts are beautiful gifts. They may not be practical or useful or requested. They may be expensive or cost very little. They are not as much about the gift itself as the thought behind it. The heart of the giver and the heart of the receiver. They're personal.
I believe this can be especially true for the gifts we give to God and He gives to us. There are common gifts we give, such as praise and money. And there are common gifts we all can receive, like everyday needs and forgiveness.
But when we give a special gift to God, it's about the personal connection we can have with Jesus. Something we know He wants and will use in a special way. Some examples could be giving to others in need, giving Him more of our time or our trust, or making a special commitment.
And when we receive unique gifts from Jesus, He is making a personal connection with us. It may be a "spiritual gift" where God gives the ability to teach or encourage others, or a specific opportunity He brings my way to share my talents; or it may be Jesus meeting a particular need for me no one else knows about or comes at just the right time.
If you were to request a special gift from Jesus this Christmas, what would it be? And what special gifts can you give to Him? Whatever they may be, ask freely and give freely. And have a beautiful Christmas.
"Freely you have received, freely give." Matt. 10:8
Painting of woman by Jan van Scorel. Public Domain.
"She has done a beautiful thing to me." Mark 14:6
Are you a unique-gift giver? Do you know someone who always gives special, one-of-a-kind gifts? Have you ever received a gift you never imagined receiving?
A similar story is told in Mark 14. This may have been the same woman at the same dinner but told from a different point of view; or it may have been at a different time. We don't know for sure, but I'd like to focus on what Jesus has to say, and His reaction is similar in terms of accepting the woman's gift, but His words are directed toward His disciples. They criticize her for being wasteful of expensive perfume that could have better uses, but Jesus is focused on her thoughtfulness. We pick up the story as it is told in Mark 14:4-8:
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me...She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare me for my burial."
Unique gifts are beautiful gifts. They may not be practical or useful or requested. They may be expensive or cost very little. They are not as much about the gift itself as the thought behind it. The heart of the giver and the heart of the receiver. They're personal.
I believe this can be especially true for the gifts we give to God and He gives to us. There are common gifts we give, such as praise and money. And there are common gifts we all can receive, like everyday needs and forgiveness.
But when we give a special gift to God, it's about the personal connection we can have with Jesus. Something we know He wants and will use in a special way. Some examples could be giving to others in need, giving Him more of our time or our trust, or making a special commitment.
And when we receive unique gifts from Jesus, He is making a personal connection with us. It may be a "spiritual gift" where God gives the ability to teach or encourage others, or a specific opportunity He brings my way to share my talents; or it may be Jesus meeting a particular need for me no one else knows about or comes at just the right time.
"Freely you have received, freely give." Matt. 10:8
Painting of woman by Jan van Scorel. Public Domain.
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