A Faithful Eyewitness
This morning, we began a new series: Eyewitness. So many people were watching Jesus, but few were following. Today we noticed an unnamed woman from Mark 14:1-9 who knew more about Jesus than those closest to him. She walked in to a banquet, anointed his head, and “performed a beautiful service” for him (Mark 14:6).
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She anointed his body for burial, performing an ancient Jewish custom of washing the body of a loved one after they died. She did this, however, before Jesus reached the cross. Like a news anchor telling us what is about to happen later in a broadcast, she revealed to the crowd what they had missed along the way—but what Jesus was about to do. He was going to give his life as a ransom for the people.
This woman is the first example of a faithful eyewitness. Without saying a word, she proclaimed the gospel. Isn’t it interesting that 90% of evangelism is simply showing up to point people to Jesus? She did so by honoring the body of her loved one. She showed us what Jesus’ death does for all those who believe in him. Paul write in 1 Corinthians 15 what she proclaims in Mark 14: “Death is swallowed up in victory… Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
When Jesus said, I want you to “deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me, he invited us to do something many eyewitnesses did not do. He asked us to be present with him and each other. Witnessing involves so much more than the words we choose to use. In fact, words can be deceiving when they do not accompany a life lived to honor Jesus. We bear witness by being present with friends and enemies and showing them a beautiful, sacrificial lifestyle. We tell them that they are beautiful in the eyes of God. We follow Jesus all the way to the cross… no matter the cost.
What beautiful performance can you offer this month? Watch out for the interruptions, and pay attention to those spontaneous moments around you. Help people remember the One who will never be forgotten, and tell someone how beautiful they really are.
Next week, we’ll talk about an eyewitness who ran away. See you then!