Mark 14:1-11 Worthy Of It All

Mark 14:1-11 begins the final part of Mark’s Gospel. Building on Jesus’ condemnation of the Temple system and its leaders, as well as His prophecy about Jerusalem’s destruction, Mark shifts focus to the events leading directly to Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection. The last thing Jesus saw in the Temple before predicting its destruction was a widow woman giving all she had. Now, as the story continues, the next scene shows another woman coming to Jesus and giving all in worship and devotion. Throughout Mark’s Gospel, he has compared and contrasted how different people understood and responded to Jesus. Here, that theme is revisited. Using his familiar "sandwich" storytelling technique—where one story is inserted between parts of another—Mark 14:1-11 emphasizes a woman’s extravagant worship and devotion in contrast to the treachery of the Jewish leaders and the betrayal by one of Jesus’ own disciples. These contrasting views of Jesus challenge us to examine our own hearts and priorities and to set our hearts rightly upon Christ, who is worthy of all glory and honor. How do you see Jesus? I. A Threat To Be Silenced (v. 1-2) II. A Savior Worthy Of Extravagant Love (3-9) III. A Means To A Self-Centered End (v. 10-11)