Can You Give too Much?

Introduction

Ryan and Mark were best friends from the time they met in first grade. They were inseparable – always interested in what the other liked. When the time came for them to make career choices, both wanted to go overseas. Ryan became a missionary in western Asia. Mark joined the military and was deployed nearby. After a summer of international tension, the country Ryan and Mark were in erupted in violent protests against foreigners. Embassies were bombed, military bases were attacked, and civilians were targeted. Within hours of each other, news reached home that both Ryan and Mark had been casualties of the violence. Everyone was devastated and teamed up to celebrate their lives. But some people expressed regret that Ryan had wasted his talents on Christian work in a hostile area instead of pursuing a profitable career at home. When Christians give to the Lord – whether they give of themselves, their time, their money, or their things – some people will call it a waste and say how it should have been spent instead. The Lord Jesus disagrees. Study Mark 14:1-11 to see how Jesus responded to the extravagant love of a woman who was openly criticized for her gift.

Observation

Pray

Ask the Lord to give you wisdom and understanding through His Word so that you can know Him and how to please Him better.

Read Focus Verses

Read Mark 14:1-11 and notice the contrast between the different people and their responses to Jesus in the story.

Basic Outline

This passage is divided into three related parts. Which verses are "Part 1" of the story?

Part 2

Which verses are "Part 2" of the story in today's passage?

Last Act

Which verses are "Part 3"?

Before Passover

How many days before Passover do these things take place according to verse 1?

Plot

What were the chief priests and scribes plotting?

Timing

In verse two, what did they say about the timing of their plot to arrest and kill Jesus?

Meanwhile…

What was Jesus doing in verse 3?

The Lady

What did the lady do in verse 3?

The Response

How did some of the people around Jesus respond to her actions in verses 4-5?

Defense

What does Jesus say in verse 6?

Answer

In verse 7, how does Jesus answer the objection some of the people had raised?

Explanation

What explanation does Jesus give in verse 8?

Promise and Praise

How do you think the lady felt when she heard Jesus say what He said in verse 9 after others had criticized her?

Judas Iscariot

What did Judas Iscariot do in verse 10?

Evil Response

How did the religious leaders who had been plotting to arrest and kill Jesus respond to Judas Iscariot's offer?

Keyword - Jesus

All through this passage Jesus is the main Character - He's the One they want to kill, the One the lady honors, the One Judas agrees to betray.

Jesus

Mark each time Jesus is named or referenced in Mark 14:1-11.

Keywords - Death and Burial

As Mark 14 opens, the tone in the book shifts and it begins to focus on Jesus' upcoming suffering, death, burial, and resurrection. You can see that by how many times Jesus' suffering, death, and burial are mentioned in today's passage.

Death and Burial

Mark each reference to Jesus' sufferings, death, and burial in Mark 14:1-11.

Interpretation

From the Beginning

If you look back at Mark 3:6 you'll see that the religious rulers opposed Jesus and His righteous authority from the beginning of His ministry.

Motivation

In Mark 15:9-10 after the religious rulers have succeeded in arresting Jesus and bringing Him to trial before Pilate, even Pilate could see what motivated them.

Loved Power and Being First

Why did the religious rulers want to destroy Jesus?

Learning More

We can learn even more about these people by the way they responded to Judas Iscariot's offer to betray Jesus. What kind of people are glad when someone offers to betray a friend?

Healed by Jesus?

Under the Mosaic Law, people with leprosy were unclean and couldn't come into town or be around other people. Earlier in Mark, Jesus healed lots of people including lepers. What might be true about Simon the leper based on the fact that he's in his house again and eating with people?

Alabaster

Alabaster is a precious stone that looks something like marble. Solomon used it in building the temple. This is a picture of a very ornate alabaster cosmetic jar found in the tomb of "King Tut" in Egypt.

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Spikenard

GotQuestions.com describes spikenard or pure nard this way: "Spikenard had a strong, distinctive aroma, similar to an essential oil, that clings to skin and hair and continues to give off its heady perfume. It was also thought to have medicinal properties. … The ointment prepared from the root was highly valued. "Spikenard symbolized the very best in ancient cultures. ... Spikenard had a unique fragrance, and the presence of its aroma was an indication that the very best had been offered."

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Putting It In Perspective

In that day, a denarii was the wages for a full day's work. So, this precious alabaster bottle of ointment was worth more than 300 days' labor. How much do you make in 300 full days of work?

Judas Iscariot's Real Thoughts…

In John 12:5-6 we get a glimpse into what Judas Iscariot was really thinking.

The Poor

So was Judas Iscariot actually concerned about the poor?

A Thief Sounds Pious

Have you ever used a good sounding reason to try to get what you want for selfish or sinful purposes?

Depths of Greed

What can we learn about the depths of Judas Iscariot's greed and evil heart by his offer to betray Jesus for money?

Giving to the Poor

Proverbs 19:17 is very clear about what God thinks of giving to the poor.

Careful Look

Look again carefully at what Jesus says in Mark 14:4-9.

What Didn't Jesus Say?

Did Jesus say you shouldn't give to the poor?

What Did Jesus Say?

The question wasn't really about giving to the poor at all. These people just didn't like that the gift was given to Jesus. How does that change the way you think about Jesus' response?

Fulfilled

How is Jesus' promise that the act of love and devotion by this lady would be told everywhere the gospel went being fulfilled today?

What Did Jesus Think?

Based on what Jesus said, what did He think of this lady's gift?

Can You Give too Much?

You can give the wrong thing or give for the wrong reason, but based on this lady's gift and Jesus' response, can you give too much to God?

A Different Size

Just two chapters before, in Mark 12:41-44, Jesus noticed a very different kind of gift.

Differences

What are some of the differences between the gift that widow gave and the gift the lady in today's passage gave?

Similarities

What are some of the similarities between the gift that widow gave and the gift the lady in today's passage gave?

Loving, Wholehearted, Genuine

If it isn't the size of the gift that's most important to Him, what pleased Jesus about these two gifts?

Not the Size…

Consider what 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us about giving to God.

God Loves a Cheerful Giver

What kind of giving does God love?

Contrast

What can you learn from the contrast between the way Judas Iscariot and this lady thought about Jesus as revealed in their actions?

Love

What did the religious rulers love? What did Judas Iscariot love? What did the lady love?

The Most Important Gift

Every Christian will be called to give different things to the Lord, but every Christian is called to give Him one thing as we see in Romans 12:1.

Yourself

What is every Christian called to give to God?

He Gave Himself for You

Think about what Jesus gave for you (2 Corinthians 8:9; Titus 2:13-14). Why is it reasonable according to Romans 12:1 for you to give yourself to Him?

Once More

Read Mark 14:1-11 once more in light of what you've studied.

About Jesus

What can you learn about Jesus from these verses?

Giving

What can you learn about giving from these verses?

Application

Responding

How do you respond when people give themselves or their time, money, or possessions to God in a way that might seem extravagant? How should you respond (if it's different)?

Giving

Have you given yourself to the Lord Jesus because He gave Himself for you? If not, won't you do that today? If so, take a minute to recommit yourself to Him.

A Gift for Jesus

Is there something you want to give to Jesus today? Will you give it to Him no matter what unbelievers think or say because you know it will please Him?

Wrapup

Closing

We hope this study plan has helped you understand what Jesus thinks of giving and has challenged you to give yourself to Him.

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