这个月一开始，我们谈到耶稣不总是解决我们现在的问题，相反，祂乃是要为永生预备道路。这里，马可就是以此为基础的。耶稣是天上的君王，祂来是为我们的缘故打一场属灵的战役。
“基督”的意思是“受膏者”。在旧约中，先知、祭司和君王都是神的受膏者。耶稣在祂受洗时被神膏抹（可 1:9-11）。人们期待祂取得伟大的胜利。 在我们今天读到的故事里，祂被膏，如祂所说，是为安葬的事。安葬用的膏油极其昂贵，这种做法对在场的其他人来说，似乎太不合适了。
“哇，想想那些穷人吧！”一些人叫道。他们期待耶稣是一个关注现世问题的王。但耶稣对于如何修复世界的问题，另有打算。“穷人... 要向他们行善，随时都可以，”耶稣说。至于膏祂的妇人，祂又说：“她所做的，是尽她所能的。”
这其中的差异很惊人。一个妇女被神感动，采取了她认为应该采取的行动。基督为此赞扬了她。另一些人说他们的感动是帮助穷人，但他们没有采取行动去帮助穷人，而是责备这个妇女没有这么做。神使用了妇人这个小小的行动，来预备祂的终极行动。其他人的不作为有什么好处呢？
亲爱的耶稣，我能做什么呢？我应该帮助穷人吗？我应该奉献一整年的薪水作为敬拜的行动吗？请告诉我能做什么，并赐给我勇气去做出来——全然为你。阿们。
马可福音 14:1-11
1过两天是逾越节，又是除酵节，祭司长和文士想法子怎么用诡计捉拿耶稣杀他。
2只是说：“当节的日子不可，恐怕百姓生乱。”
3耶稣在伯大尼长大痲疯的西门家里坐席的时候，有一个女人拿着一玉瓶至贵的真哪哒香膏来，打破玉瓶，把膏浇在耶稣的头上。
4有几个人心中很不喜悦，说：“何用这样枉费香膏呢？
5这香膏可以卖三十多两银子赒济穷人。”他们就向那女人生气。
6耶稣说：“由她吧！为什么难为她呢？她在我身上做的是一件美事。
7因为常有穷人和你们同在，要向他们行善随时都可以，只是你们不常有我。
8她所做的是尽她所能的，她是为我安葬的事，把香膏预先浇在我身上。
9我实在告诉你们：普天之下，无论在什么地方传这福音，也要述说这女人所做的，以为纪念。”
10十二门徒之中有一个加略人犹大，去见祭司长，要把耶稣交给他们。
11他们听见就欢喜，又应许给他银子，他就寻思如何得便把耶稣交给他们。
"She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial." - Mark 14:8
Earlier this month we talked about how Jesus doesn’t always fix things now; instead, he prepares the way for eternal life. Mark builds on that point here. Jesus is the heavenly King who came to fight a spiritual battle for our sake.
“Christ” means “Anointed One.” Prophets, priests, and kings were anointed by God in the Old Testament. Jesus was anointed at his baptism (Mark 1:9-11). Great triumphs were expected of him. And in the story we read today, Jesus was anointed, as he put it, for his burial. The anointing perfume for burial was extremely expensive, and this act seemed out of line to others who were there.
“Whoa, there! Think of the poor!” some of the others cried. They were expecting Jesus to be a king focused on the problems of the present world. But Jesus had a different plan for fixing the world’s problems. “The poor . . . you can help . . . anytime you want,” Jesus said. As for the woman who anointed him, he added, “She did what she could.”
The difference is striking. One woman, moved by God, took the action she felt called to do. And Christ praised her for it. The others said their hearts were moved to help the poor, but instead of taking action for the poor, they blamed her for not doing so. God used her small action to prepare for his ultimate action. What good did the others’ inaction do?
Dear Jesus, what can I do? Should I help the poor? Should I pour out a year’s wages as an act of worship? Tell me what I can do, and give me the courage to do it—for you. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
