She Did What She Could
I thought perhaps since it is close to Easter, it might be good to encourage all of you with a different slant to part of the Easter story.
At my church a few years ago the minister, Dr. Brad Reynolds, was preaching on Mark 14. I had heard this chapter preached on many times before. You probably remember it also.
While he was 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. Mary 14:3 (NIV)
It was right before Easter and I was taking notes and listening when my eyes jumped ahead and fell on one particular verse. The words seemed to jump out at me. In verse eight it says,
She did what she could.
I re-read that,
She did what she could. Mark 14:8 (NIV)
Very simple, easy to understand and it said to me, all of us can only do what we can. This lady had broken her bottle and poured the contents over Jesus. She was preparing him for his burial. What an important role, but it all seemed so insignificant to bystanders.
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 wage and the money given to the poor.’ Andy they rebuked her harshly. Mark 14:4-5
But oh my, what power there was in this action of pouring the perfume over Jesus. Jesus knew how powerful her act was. This lady was preparing Jesus for His future. Jesus even told the others to leave this woman alone.
“Leave her alone,” Jesus said. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could.” Mark 14:6-8a
Isn’t that a lot like those of us who work with the children of divorce? What we do may seem so insignificant to others but we are preparing these children for their futures. We do what we can! If you struggle with children of divorce attending your church classes on a regular basis, just do what you can. Love them when they are there. Send them a card or a give them a call when they miss.
Maybe they won’t be at the Easter Egg Hunt. Put a few eggs aside for them so when they do return you can pull out those eggs and take a moment to recall the scriptures about Easter. Many of those children will save those beautiful eggs and they will become their treasures that remind them of a loving church leader.
Most importantly let them know that there is a God who is never going to forsake them or leave them. This God sent His son to die on a cross for their sins. You would be amazed at the number of children of divorce who don’t hear this at home.
She did what she could.
Let that sink if for a minute. Just imagine Jesus saying,
Leave them alone. They are doing what they can to further my kingdom.
Since one third of all children in the United States are being raised in single parent homes, if we don’t love them and work with them, we will not be furthering the kingdom through those children and their future children.
Roll the clock ahead 5-10 years. A former whirlwind young man comes upon you at the mall. He’s with his mom and says,
She (you, his church worker who cared enough to save a few Easter eggs) has done a beautiful thing to me. Mark 14:6 (NIV)
When you minister to the child of divorce you are impacting the kingdom in ways that you will never realize. Jesus realizes it though.
She did what she could!
This article is updated and adapted from an article originally published on Divorce Ministry 4 Kids on March 30, 2012.
