The Good News of Easter - Part 3: Preparing for Something Even Better
Adrian Thornton

The first two weeks of this series, The Good News of Easter, were all about understanding what Jesus has done for us. I hope it has encouraged you to confidently draw near to God because of the finished work of the cross.

This message goes back to a story just before the cross, where Mary (probably unknowingly) prepares Jesus for burial. Here, she brings a jar of expensive perfume, breaks it open, and pours it on Jesus’ feet.

After Mary is criticised by Judas, Jesus says, “Wherever this gospel is preached, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” That’s a big deal. There is something about what Mary did that is significant and worth exploring.

First, Mary broke open her jar of perfume. It was something incredibly valuable and possibly a family heirloom. What was being saved for an important occasion for herself was instead used for Jesus.

To open the jar, Mary had to break it, and commentators let us know that it all had to be used. There was no saving some for later. Once that jar was broken, there was no going back.

That’s what Jesus calls us to—total devotion. Like Elisha burning his plows, or the rich young ruler who walked away sad because he couldn’t let go, we are called to break open our own jars and devote our lives to Jesus.

Third, Mary prepares Jesus for burial. It is unlikely she knew this, but that makes her act of service so much more special. Mary becomes part of God’s bigger plan because she simply wanted to serve Jesus.

People often wonder what God’s plan for their lives is. The example Mary sets encourages us to just start by devoting our lives to serve Jesus. It is in active service that people will find themselves living in God’s purposes.

In the same way Mary prepared Jesus for His burial, we can prepare for something else, and that is Jesus’s return. Jesus has promised He is coming back, and so in between Easter and His return, the church is called to devote their lives to serve Christ.

What Mary did was to be told in memory of her because it represents the type of life Jesus calls us to live in following Him. That is, to devote our lives to serve Christ in preparation for His return.

This way of life is costly, as it costs Mary something very precious to her. It is also very humbling, as Mary poured the perfume on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair.

This way of life will, however, lead you to the true life God intends for you to live. Let this quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer sit with you as you reflect on your own commitment to God and His Kingdom.

Discovery Bible Stories:
John 12:1–11
Matthew 26:6–13

Questions:
What does ‘breaking your jar of perfume’ look like in your life?
Are you currently being held back by something you need to let go of?

What’s in your hands that you can use to serve Jesus and His Kingdom?

What part of the good news of Easter has stood out to you over the last few weeks?

Watch Sunday’s message below on YouTube.