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Mark 
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Day 293

Acts 3:3 "Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms." Acts 3:3"

Day 293 – Mark 14

“Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.” Acts 3:3

STRANGE AND UNWARRANTED INDIGNATION

The woman who anointed Jesus must have been stunned and deeply hurt when she noticed nasty remarks that arose.

“But there were some who were indignant among themselves,
and said, ‘Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might
have been sold for more than three hundred denarii
and given to the poor.’ And they criticized her sharply.”
MARK 14:4-5

1. But there were some

Who were these people?

a) It could not have been the host Simon the Leper
He would have recognized and appreciated this act of love expressed.
b) Invited guests
These would have been the very disciples of Jesus. Their loud remarks would have been uncalled for- they were only guests of Simon the Leper! It would have been nothing less than rudeness to openly criticize anyone, when one is only an invited guest.

2. And they criticized her

The criticism was made along the following lines:-

a) Wastage?
To these men, the breaking of the flask and the outpouring of the oil of spikenard was pure wastage!
b) Concern for the poor?
A swift calculation was made concerning this gift. It would have cost about 300 denarii and that would amount to nearly a year’s wages for a common laborer!
c) Open and merciless criticism
i) Mary was not an unknown person to them. She was a fellow disciple.
ii) There was no attempt to understand her action, only criticism.

THE PROBLEM OF A CALLOUS HEART

This incident took place within two days of the death of Jesus! Despite all that Jesus had taught His disciples about His impending death, callousness of heart was displayed. The same callousness of heart had appeared just a little while ago, when the Disciples disputed who would be the greatest among them after Jesus’ death (Cf. Mark 9:33-34).

The criticism that arose did not become the disciples of Jesus! The problem of a carnal and callous heart had not been fully resolved and remedied.