Just For Him

NOVEMBER 14, 2023

 “…he (Jesus) said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.” (Matthew 26:10)

This text is taken from the story of an enthusiastic Christian who dearly loved the Lord Jesus and had expressed her love by doing something very special just for Him. She took an alabaster box of very precious ointment and poured it upon the head of the blessed Lord and Savior. Honored as that action has been throughout the history of the Church of God, it did not escape criticism among the religious people of her day. The disciples expressed their own indignation, but Christ defended her; and in the course of defending her said, “Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.” There is no cause for condemning gracious souls when their work is good, especially when it is done solely for their Lord. There are always plenty of troublers around to condemn our service for Christ, but they can only worry us so far as we give thought to them. Let us rather delight ourselves in our Lord’s acceptance of our expressions of love to Him.

Observe especially that her good work was a good work done upon the Lord Jesus. It was of no immediate benefit to anybody else, nor was it meant to be. She did not pour her costly ointment upon the head of the Lord to be seen of men or to gain the praise of men. In fact, she may have even expected the bitter criticism that she received. Jesus is always well pleased with what we do for Him not considering how others might respond, whether it be with favor, contempt, or not at all.

Judas and others of the disciples were thinking that the five hundred pence for which the ointment could have been sold could have provided food to feed the poor. She, however, expended it on Jesus and saw to it that all was used to honor Him, and that was her only purpose. Of course, Judas was right, the ointment might have been turned into cash, or perhaps been used in some other way to benefit a great number of people. Now, Judas himself we know had no such concerns, for he was a thief (John 12:6); but others, who were of a practical philanthropical spirit, saw what this woman did as a waste. Is anything wasted that is all for Jesus?

This box of ointment was all for Jesus. Others who were around might have smelled the sweet aroma (this is always the case when good works are done for Christ) but this grateful woman intended the sweetness for Him, just for Him. Her only motive was to show reverence for Him; and, provided He should be pleased with her deed, she would be perfectly content, though no one else should be gratified. Her first and last thoughts were for the Lord Jesus Himself. This ought to be our one motive. As we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, all are to be done for Jesus’ sake out of genuine love for Him.

We know from the account given by another of the evangelists that the woman broke the alabaster box. Was there any need for that? Could she not simply have opened the box and poured out its contents? Themanner in which she did this was as important as the matter of the gift. Her breaking the box displayed her eagerness, and also showed that the choicest possession was not good enough for her Lord. She banished every thought of economy when she would express her love and gratitude to Christ. This action, in addition to expressing her great love for Christ and showing that compared to Him nothing was precious (I Pet. 2:7), showed that her heart was fixed. She broke the box; it could never be refilled – symbolically she “burned the bridge,” as it were, to her former life. This is what Christ deserves from all His chosen ones.

Had some of us been there we might have been among her critics, who thought she was being wasteful. Or we might have considered her fanatical. But she was not concerned with what on-lookers had to say; her only consideration was what Jesus would think of her actions. To please Him was the height and range of her ambition. Happy woman she was!! May Christ be so precious to us!!