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Scripture Reference: Gospel of John 12: 1-7, Matthew 26: 6-13, Mark 14: 3-9
Discussion Point 5: “Her deed became paired with the gospel because it spelled out how to follow in everyday action.” Elisa Morgan, Page 31
How do we follow Jesus in everyday action? What does being a Christian truly mean? Through observation, reading, and conversations it appears that some within the Christian community are slowly being lulled to sleep by the monotony of attending church on Sunday mornings, singing a few songs, listening to a preacher, going out to eat, and showing up to do it again next Sunday.
For the sake of our own lives, the lives of our children, and that of this lost world, Christianity must be more than that. When we read and study the life of Jesus, we see his love, compassion, grace, and wisdom. We see him at work daily, encouraging others to follow and then work alongside him. Once we have experienced him as Mary experienced him, the questions are: Are you compelled to accept him or reject him? If you make the commitment to accept him, how does that decision ultimately change your life?
Does knowing Jesus and loving him change your daily prospective and priorities in life? Does the decision cause you to evaluate your investments: how you spend your time and money? Do others acknowledge the change that has taken place in you?
The mountain of questions comes from an evaluation of these two short pages of reading and this one unique experience of Mary of Bethany. She knew Jesus and loved Jesus, and her understanding of him resulted in an extravagant action in this particular moment. The action was only a display of the drastic change that had taken place in her life as a result of her relationship with him. She did not have to speak a word because people saw the change in her.
Like Mary’s example, we have the opportunity everyday to give a testimony about the goodness of Jesus and the change that he has accomplished in our lives. Your testimony can be writing a check, sharing a smile, lending a hand, offering a kind word, listening, or praying. Your daily actions are indeed paired with the gospel message. What a wonderful opportunity to invest?
A SISTA'S JOURNEY 
I was struck by paragraph one:
“Through observation, reading, and conversations it appears that some within the Christian community are slowly being lulled to sleep by the monotony of attending church on Sunday mornings, singing a few songs, listening to a preacher, going out to eat, and showing up to do it again next Sunday.”
I get antsy when I see people doing two services on Sunday + Sunday School week after week for 5, 10, 20 years or more. We are fed until we are overstuffed…what if instead of another Bible study or church service, we took on a means of service to show Christ’s love to others. With our neighbors. At the rescue mission. The rehab clinic. The food pantry. Etc.
But if we have indeed inexperienced Jesus, we will not just sit around to be fed some more. We will be out like He was, active, engaged, loving, healing, serving.
Thanks for posting, Natasha!
Suzanne,
I was listening to a radio talk show on yesterday afternoon and someone shared your same frustrations. Sometimes when people are continually in the receiving mode (just attending Sunday morning service) without the practical application or “Go” element of the gospel, it takes a long process to actually see a change in them (and sometimes there is no change at all). There are several problems that cause this, and hopefully we can address some of them soon. I am already considering the next book to recommend. Overall the big picture here, as you so eloquently put it, is to point people back to Jesus. He is our example. He clearly revealed to us throughout his ministry that we are to go out beyond our places of comfort (or the four walls of a church building) to spread his message. Let us indeed join with him!
I like how the author is pointing out that Mary gave in a BIG (“extravagant”) way. Her love for Jesus far outweighed the value of the nard. It causes me to think about heart idols and what is it I may be withholding from Christ because it is too valuable to me(“my” time, talents, money). It is my prayer that all that I am blessed with I can say belongs to the Lord and I freely give it to to Him. So that I can model Mary’s example of love rather than that of the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-23).