Legacy

A Legacy of Stewardship

Today as I was getting locked in with Jesus, and reading through the book of Mark, I got to chapter 14 and a question began to emerge from the text in my heart. That being; what legacy will I leave? Will we leave? Will you leave?
And secondly what might hinder or prevent me from leaving the ultimate destiny God has for me?

In Mark 14:3-9 we see a powerful dichotomy of what citizenship in the world promotes, and on the other hand what citizenship in the Kingdom of God promotes. As the text states its only a couple days before Passover and Jesus was in serious danger for his life. His reputation and power had reached a point to where the chief priests could no longer tolerate and something had to be done. Jesus, just outside of Jerusalem kicks it in Bethany in the home of, yep you guessed it, people who have literally been touched and changed by the ministry of Jesus. It picks up in verse 3 of chapter 14 stating that they were in the home of Simon the leper, a man healed by Jesus, and there at dinner was also the disciples, Mary and Martha. In that custom after the meal they would do what I’m quite gifted at, recline and take it easy. They would sit on what would look like couches to us today and talk, share thoughts, bless one another, and this was a special night. Those in the room knew that the days of Jesus’ death were approaching, well at least Mary did. Mary approaches Jesus and does something that only a true lover of God would do, worship, serve and love God at any cost. Just picture a bottle of Hugo Boss for example, however for some reason that bottle would retail at Nordstrom’s for right at 35,000 dollars. So she does the unthinkable, she cracks open the slender neck of the stone flask that held this ridiculously expensive perfume and anointed Jesus, her messiah, her King. This passage paralleled in John 12 gives us a more descriptive picture of how she applied this, she not only covers his head, but his feat as well, and then for a towel she uses her hair! This picture of servant hood is one that should have gripped the disciples who were watching this, however they responded quite differently. The text says that some were “indignantly” remarking to each other, that means they were deeply moved at why this was not a good use of something of that worth, for she could of sold that money and gave it to the poor, at least that was they’re excuse. At this moment we see the dichotomy between someone who lives as an active part of the Kingdom of God, and those who like the idea of the Kingdom but really live by the standards of this world. I mean seriously, most of our impressions of Jesus, as inaccurate as they are at times would think Jesus would have sided with the disciples and would have scolded her as well, however he responds quite differently. Jesus says in verse 6 that this was good! The Greek word there gives us more insight to how deeply Jesus felt, the word used is kalon which means a good, noble, beautiful work. Jesus not only responds by saying that was good, Jesus looks intently into Mary's heart and says that this work is something beautiful! This contrast has challenged me that I, like the disciples can be close to Jesus, the author and inaugurator of the Kingdom yet live and operate like the World.

At the Tables this week we have wrestled through what it might look like to be a good Kingdom stewards and I’ve searched wikipedia and couldn’t find anything for us on what that looks like or even a definition☺, however we see a clear picture here in Mark 14 of what a life looks like when one values the King over anything else in their life.

So how does this sit with you? If you were in the room that night, what would your response have been? What prevents us from stewarding our resources like Mary??

Jesus goes on to say in verse 9
“I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her" now that’s leaving a legacy worth leaving!

-Jon