Month: February 2026

Mark 14:3 ” While in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head.”

This alabaster jar had no lid, the precious nard was instead sealed in the container…preserved for a very significant use. We thus see this unknown woman deliberately breaking open the jar and anointing Jesus…a profound display of love, devotion, and reverence. However, what the disciples saw was an extravagant waste of resources. But what Jesus saw was much more…a preparation for His burial. And as the fragrance wafted up and filled the room, the disciples were indignant at the woman’s careless actions…but Jesus instead understood it as Ephesians 5:2 states, ” Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Later, when Paul gave instructions for the Celebration of the Lord’s Supper in I Corinthians 11:24, he wrote, “The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body, broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ ” The disciples couldn’t understand the importance of the broken jar, until they witnessed the broken body of Jesus at the crucifixion…realizing only then Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice and love for all mankind.

John 17:18 ” As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”

In this verse, Jesus is praying for His disciples before He leaves them. But just a few verses late, Jesus is now praying for all Believers when He says, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me…” (John 17:23) These two verses show the pattern in the eternal relationship of Father & Son, which is then reflected in the unity of Son & Believer. Later in John, the risen Jesus again reiterates to His followers, “As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21) So why did Jesus place so much importance on evangelism & missions? The ancient Christian Theologian, Augustine, once wrote, “Life consists in fellowship with God, Who created us for Himself, so that our soul is restless unless it finds its rest in Him.” But then its, how can people call on the name of the Lord unless they’ve heard about Him…and how can they hear unless someone shares the Gospel with them…and how can they share the Good News of Jesus unless they’ve been sent? (Romans 10:14-15) It’s all rolled up in the Great Commission of “Go!”… The Father sent Jesus, in turn Jesus is now sending you.

Ephesians 5:15-16 ” Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

Paul’s admonishment to the Church in Ephesus still has a powerful message for us today. We are to be cognizant of the challenges of living in an evil world…ever holding on to our moral values with grace, compassion, and forgiveness. We are to live with purpose, intention, and circumspect…using a deliberate approach to life – ever mindful of the gravity of our actions and decisions. In Matthew 10:16, as Jesus was about to send the twelve disciples out, He warned them, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” In other words, don’t be naive about the evil around you…be wise and prudent in your actions…always walking in integrity and kindness, even in the face of persecution. For God will give you “divine appointments”… those decisive moments of great importance, that you may share your faith persuasively in order that the person may be drawn to Christ.