Virtue: Goodness
Scripture: Mark 14:3-9
In Bethany, this woman came and anointed Jesus with expensive perfume, to prepare Jesus for His burial. This oil-based fragrance would have followed Jesus around for the next few days, through the Last Supper, Judas’ betrayal, Jesus’ trial, beating, and crucifixion. And, just as the scent would be with Jesus through time, so this good deed has followed the story of the Gospel through time.
This word that Jesus uses in verse 6 is most often translated ‘good’, but can also mean words such as: noble, honorable, beautiful. Maybe your translation says one of these. But Jesus acknowledged what this woman has done: a good deed.
Goodness is about more than the absence of bad or sin. It is to find something that is truly good-noble-beautiful, and to do that thing. In Jesus’ story, he exemplified goodness through His many healings and more. But here, in Jesus’ last week before His death, this woman expressed goodness through pouring out her love in honor of Jesus.
The Gospel (good news) is that Jesus is King over all things. He has conquered sin and death, and reigns in victory. In light of this reality, the good, honorable, noble, and beautiful thing is to worship Him.
Questions:
1. Why does Jesus tell the disciples that helping the poor was not what was best in that moment for this woman?
2. How do you get distracted away from the good to do lesser things?
3. What are three things you can do this week that are noble, honorable, or ‘good’?
Action:
Remember, a virtue is not something we can just will ourselves into. It is the excellence of God on display in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Invite the Holy Spirit to help you through this action, and join with other believers to do this action with:
On your own, or together with your family, friends, or home group, begin to make a list of things you are grateful for (be as specific as possible). These are the good things God has done for you. Spend some time in worship, thanking God for these things. Pour out your worship on God as an offering.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are good to me. Thank you for your goodness. Lord, help me to remember what is good and noble in life, and to not get distracted by lesser things. You are the highest priority in my life.
Amen
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