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“A Memorial For a Sacrificial Woman”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Jarrod M. Jacobs Judas only did this because he had the \u201cbag\u201d<\/em> and was a thief (Jn. 12:6). He called anointing Jesus a \u201cwaste\u201d<\/em> (Matt. 26:8). Jesus corrected the naysayers by saying that this was done in preparation for His coming burial (Matt. 26:12; Jn. 12:7). In a room full of people who still did not comprehend that Christ would die soon, it no doubt shocked them to hear Jesus say she was doing something in preparation for His burial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christ said, \u201cVerily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her\u201d<\/em> (Matt. 26:13). In obedience to Christ\u2019s command, let us memorialize this generous lady. What does the pouring of this oil on Christ teach us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember, Jesus said this was done \u201cto prepare me for burial\u201d (Matt. 26:12, ESV). She acted in faith for what was to come soon. The others did not believe Jesus would die at this point; they awaited an earthly kingdom ruled by Jesus. Yet, this lady understood and attempted to \u201cdo what she could\u201d for the Lord. She had listened to the Lord long enough to grasp what His real work was!<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we read Matthew 26 and John 12, it is clear that though Jesus is surrounded by several, she is the only one acting in this manner. It takes courage to do something when no one else is. We can add to this the fact that when she started to anoint Jesus, the disciples complained loudly about what she was doing. Yet, she continued to act in faith. Indeed, it would take courage to continue when others protested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The price of the oil was \u201cthree hundred pence\u201d <\/em>(denarii, shillings, coins, Jn. 12:5), which was about a year\u2019s wage. This lady poured out a year\u2019s wages in moments! Was this wasteful? Although Judas and others claimed so (Matt. 26:8), it was a generous act toward her Savior! The oil\u2019s price was insignificant compared to the One she anointed! This act demonstrated incredible generosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why should we remember this act? First, it is a memorial to her for what she did for the Lord. Additionally, doesn\u2019t this show us how we need to act? Christians must act with faith, courage, and generosity as we walk this earth. It is increasingly clear that this is necessary as our society continues to deteriorate. As time progresses, it will be harder to be a Christian. Hence, we need to embody the faith, courage, and generosity of heart to follow the Lord and remain faithful to the taking of our lives (Rev. 2:10)! Let us never forget the actions of this meek and blessed lady! May we obey the Lord\u2019s commands and proclaim her example wherever the gospel is preached! ——————–\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mike Richardson ——————–<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1) Hear\u00a0<\/strong>the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). ——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tebeau Street “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB). ——————– Contents: 1) “A Memorial For a Sacrificial Woman” (Jarrod M. Jacobs)2) Which Could Be Said of You? (Mike Richardson) ——————– […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3163","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3163"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3163\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3166,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3163\/revisions\/3166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Toward the end of Christ\u2019s life, a woman poured expensive ointment on Him (Matt. 26:7). From John, we learn that Mary, Lazarus\u2019 sister, anointed Him (Jn. 12:3). As the ointment was poured on Christ, some disapproved of her actions. John identifies Judas as one of those who took issue with her, complaining the oil could have been \u201csold for three hundred pence and given to the poor\u201d<\/em> (Jn. 12:5).<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis Was An Act Of Faith.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This Was An Act Of Courage.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This Was An Act Of Generosity.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A Memorial<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
— Via The Ancient Landmark, <\/em>May 28, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2kings18-1-and-2kings21-2-BSB-1024x592.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhich Could Be Said of You?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It is interesting to notice how the Bible describes different people in Scripture. There is a great contrast between two kings of Judah that I would like to draw to your attention. The first king we notice is identified as Hezekiah and the second king we will observe is named Manasseh. Two men who reigned as kings, but have different descriptions about the type of men they truly were.
Notice in 2 Kings 18:3 the description of Hezekiah. \u201cAnd he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.\u201d Now observe the description of Manasseh in 2 Kings 21:2. \u201cAnd he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.\u201d
Before us we have two men who had risen to power to reign as king over Israel. They were placed in a position of great authority and as the leader of the nation of Judah and they had a great responsibility put on them. They needed to remember to do the will of God in whatever capacity they found themselves in.
We observe that Hezekiah did what was right in the sight of the Lord. He sought to do the will of God. He remembered the covenant God made with His people. He was diligent to follow the will of God \u201caccording to all that his father David had done.\u201d Hezekiah was not perfect; he struggled with sin as we read in 2 Kings. However, his heart was to please God and when he fell short and sinned, he would get up, repent, and return to God.
However, when we look at Manasseh, he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not act according to his father David, but according to the sins and abominations of the pagan nations that God had cast out of Israel. He did not seek the will of God, but rather sought his own lusts and selfish ways.
The contrast between these two kings gives us several lessons to observe.
1. Some don\u2019t care about God\u2019s will and do not seek to obey Him. <\/strong>This can be a temptation to people in a position of authority. People who are accustomed to others \u201canswering\u201d to them can be tempted to forget they answer to God. One can forget they are under the authority of God and must submit to His will. This can be a temptation to people who are spiritual leaders. One must be on guard lest they forget they are under the authority of Christ (Matt. 28:18). This is also a dangerous temptation to every man and woman.
Look at the world today and see how many seek to do their own will with no regard to God\u2019s Word. God allows man to ignore His will and live in rebellion and do that which is evil in His sight. However, God had declared there will be a day of reckoning and when the consequences are handed down no one can blame God. He has gone to great lengths to save us from our sins. He has revealed His will and we can understand it and submit to it or we can reject it, but we will answer for it (Matt. 7:21). Who are you more like in this regard \u2013 Hezekiah or Manasseh?\u00a0
2. God\u2019s will can and should be done.<\/strong> God does not give us impossible guidelines. His will is for our good. \u201cFor this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome\u201d (1 John 5:3). That does not mean it is always easy to do the right thing. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane prayed, \u201cO My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will\u201d (Matt. 26:39). Jesus prayed while facing the cross, yet through the cross He provided salvation for us.
Doing the will of God means that I deny myself and my own will if it conflicts with God\u2019s perfect will (Matt. 16:24). You can do God\u2019s will \u2013 the question is, \u201cWill you?\u201d Which can be said of you, that you \u201cdo that which is right in the eyes of God\u201d or \u201cdo that which is evil in the eyes of God\u201d? Manasseh finally came to his senses and repented after living in rebellion so many years (2 Chron. 33:12-13). It took Manasseh hitting rock bottom before he realized his need for God. What would it take to bring you to realize your need to submit to the will of God (James 4:7)?
3. Results of doing God\u2019s will. <\/strong>The problem with many today is not that they don\u2019t know enough to do God\u2019s will, it is they don\u2019t care enough to live it. Many refuse to live up to what they know. However, if we lived as close to God\u2019s will as we could what would be the results? 1) God would accept us, 2) God would be glorified, 3) it would be for our good, 4) it would be a good example to others.
Not doing the will of God results in following the wicked one (2 Cor. 4:4). Which could be said of you, that you are doing right in the eyes of God or evil in His sight?
— Via Articles <\/em>from the Knollwood church of Christ, September 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0
2) Believe\u00a0<\/strong>in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent\u00a0<\/strong>of sins.\u00a0 For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).\u00a0 For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).
4) Confess faith\u00a0<\/strong>in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized<\/strong>\u00a0in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21).\u00a0 This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).\u00a0 For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so \u201cthrough faith in the working of God\u201d (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to\u2026
6) Continue in the faith <\/strong>by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA\u00a0 31501
Sunday:<\/strong> 9 a.m<\/strong>. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. <\/strong>Worship Service
Wednesday (all but the first):<\/strong> 7 p.m.<\/strong> Bible Classes\u00a0
\u00a0First Wednesday of the month: 7 p.m. <\/strong>Congregational Song Service (about 45 minutes of singing, followed by a short talk)
evangelist\/editor: <\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com<\/a>
https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/go\/all.htm<\/a> (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"