Why was this Waste Made? - Mark 14:4

Mark wrote how Jesus, “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 in chapter fourteen and verse four of his book, Mark shared how some indignant people asked, “Why was this waste of the ointment made?”, where we read:

And there were some that had indignation within themselves,

and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

The verse reads, “And there were some that had indignation within themselves, ...” Mark began with the words, “and there were some” or “and there existed and were in place various people” “that had indignation” which means “who were greatly afflicted, grieved and very displeased” “within themselves” or “inside of their own selves”. Mark shared how “some” of the people who were in Simon's house were “greatly afflicted” inside “themselves”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?” Mark continued with the words, “and said” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “why” or “”for what reason and cause, “was this waste” which means “was the destroying, perishing and ruin” “of the ointment made” or “pertaining to the precious perfume performed, allowed to come to pass and happen”? Mark shared how the people who were “indignant” wondered what the reason was for the “ruin” of the “precious ointment” happened.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how some of the people watching the woman pour out her “valuable” “ointment” upon Jesus' head took issue with her “waste” of the precious commodity. Jesus will say more about what this woman did in the next verse, but suffice it for now to realize there is no expense made for Jesus that is a “waste” because He owns it all. Though others may see the expenditure as “ruin and destruction”, those who are wise will “pour out” upon God's Son Jesus everything they have so they may have a loving relationship with Him.

Next time we see Mark share how the indignant ones conclude, “it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".