Mark 14:3-9
Is it ever possible for a believer to do something in this life that actually pleases God? This is a question asked by many Christians who are deeply concerned with their still having a sinful nature. And it is my intention to consider a passage in the Bible that deals head on with that question. We read in Mark 14:3-9:
And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
In this passage, we have an account of a believer having done something that clearly pleases Jesus, the Son of God. And from it we can infer at least three key truths relating to our question:
A. The possibility of doing that which pleases Jesus
Deep down, some Christians have a hard time believing that it is ever possible for anyone on this earth to live a life pleasing to Lord Jesus. After all, isn’t our most holy act always polluted with impure thoughts and motives? Who can say that in any act he has done the best he could? Isn’t it true that we could always do better?
All these things are true to an extent. What sensitive, sincere Christian would dare say otherwise? And yet, there is a balancing truth which must likewise be kept in view, or we will be greatly hindered in our Christian walk and our growth in grace. Indeed, we may even sink into a seemingly endless pit of despair.
Notice that the Lord definitely approves of what Mary did by saying in verse 6, “Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me,” and in the first half of verse 8, “She hath done what she could.”
Both of these statements show that it is indeed possible for a believer to please Jesus in definite areas of his life and at specific times.
The Cross. Perhaps to you such a perspective seems that God is too soft on our imperfection. If so, remember that only six days later this Jesus would be hanging on a Roman cross bearing God’s wrath for Mary’s, as well as all other believers’, sins. Christ certainly was not soft and lenient toward sin.
You see, it is because God the Father is satisfied with what Christ did on the Cross, that when He looks on His justified children, He sees the perfect work of His Son. Moreover, God is satisfied with His own work in us to produce the fruit that pleases Him. Listen to the words of Hebrews 13:20,21:
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
B. The description of that which pleases Jesus
There are at least six elements of Mary’s act that is noteworthy:
1. It is done in faith. The Lord identifies the purpose behind her anointing activity in the second part of verse 8, when He said, “She is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.”
As her sitting at the feet of the Lord earlier demonstrates, Mary listens with ears of faith. So, unlike the disciples, she believes what she has heard when Jesus repeatedly spoke of His coming death. Sensing that her Lord is about to be killed, she does something that anticipates that death.
Believing and acting upon what Jesus says is thus pleasing to God.
2. It comes from love for Christ. Jesus says in verses 6,7: “Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.”
Christ here does not deny that we should care for the needs of the poor. Rather, He points out that Mary’s act is motivated by her deep love for the Savior, her regarding Christ the most important Person in her life. This kind of motivation pleases God.
True, we cannot today personally do deeds of kindness to a physically present Christ. However, the Lord Jesus states through the parable in Matthew 25:31-46 that He considers deeds of kindness done unto His brethren to be deeds done unto Him personally.
3. It shows total consecration to Christ. Mary’s deed cost her a lot. The perfume is worth over a year’s wages for the average worker. Here is a lesson to those who are unwilling to be stretched personally to serve the Lord.
If you would please the Lord and if you would truly be disciples of Christ, you must take up your cross, deny yourself and follow Christ in every area of your life. Not every action that pleases Christ must involve the extent of personal cost to Mary. But acts that please Christ are those which come from a believing heart that views all that one has and all that one is as belonging to the Lord to begin with.
4. It disregards men’s reaction. What Mary does is not popular among men. Note that those who criticize her are not pagan Gentiles or even apostate Jews. The parallel account in Matthew 26 reveals that those indignant with her are Jesus’ disciples. Nor is this the first time Mary has to endure criticism for doing that which is right. Her own godly sister, Martha, has earlier faulted her for not helping with the serving, but just wanting to learn from the Lord.
From Mary we learn that actions that please Christ are not necessarily those that men approve. Although a good name before others is important according to God’s Word, it is Christ’s opinion that ultimately counts. Isn’t it liberating to be delivered from the opinions of fallible and variable men and to be able to serve such a gracious, reasonable, able-to-be-pleased Master?
5. It is rightly opportunistic. As the Lord Himself notes, Mary knows that Christ will not remain long on earth and seizes the fleeting moment of opportunity to manifest her love to Him. This is that which pleases Jesus.
Our opportunities to serve our Lord may seem to be limited and all too infrequent. But what pleases Him is our readiness and eagerness of heart to seize not only those direct opportunities when they come, but the seemingly insignificant ways in which He has put us, and to faithfully carry out our duties.
6. It is thorough for the occasion. Remember again the first part of verse 8: “She hath done what she could.”
There was much that Mary could not do. She couldn’t stop the coming chain of events ordained by God before the world began. She couldn’t stop the beatings and mockings and the decision of the kangaroo court. She couldn’t stop the Roman soldiers from nailing Christ to a cross and suspending Him on it between heaven and earth. But the Lord Jesus does not point to what she couldn’t do. He stresses instead that she has done what she could.
There is much that we can’t do about the growth of the Kingdom of God, isn’t there? Labor as we might to raise our children, we cannot make them Christians. Try as we might to witness to friends and loved ones about Christ, we cannot do the regenerating work within. Yet, as we do perform specific deeds with the spirit and heart of a Mary—yes, though mixed with sin—we may yet hear our Savior say, “He has done a beautiful thing for Me; he has done what he could.”
C. The result of doing that which pleases Jesus
In verse 9 the Lord says: “Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.”
Mary had the privilege of receiving right away that which in most cases we will not receive until the Lord’s return—the approving words and smile of her Savior. But every faithful child of God, we are told, will one day also hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matt. 25:21,23).
We are also told that our light and momentary troubles now (and Mary had troubles, didn’t she?) are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Final word. Before I close, I have a final word for the “perfectionistic” Christian: Do not keep your distance from the Savior because you think you are not good enough for Him. Do not continue to caricature Him as harsh and unreasonable. The Lord of Mary is your Lord too. And He is pleased when we do what we can, even when the desired results are not realized.
Actually, God commands us to strive to please God. He says in I Thessalonians 4:1: “We beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.”
The Bible teaches that the more we humble ourselves and recognize our imperfection, the more we will show the fruit of God’s work in us. So, follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and take every opportunity to serve Christ, and you will begin to experience the joy of living a life that is pleasing to God.