Treasure or Transaction | Mark 14:1-11

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Today’s shout-out goes to Charles Thompson from Marshallville, GA. Thank you for your generosity and partnership in Project 23. Your faithfulness is helping many see Jesus as their greatest treasure. This one’s for you.

Our text today is Mark 14:1-11:

It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him. — Mark 14:1-11

This passage presents a stark contrast—two people standing on opposite sides of the same moment. Both are close to Jesus. Both witness His power. But one sees a treasure. The other sees a transaction.

The woman walks in quietly. Breaks the jar. Pours out a year’s wages in perfume on Jesus' head. No explanation. No hesitation. Just worship. And what does Jesus say?

“She has done a beautiful thing to me.”

She saw Jesus as worthy of everything.

And then Judas walks out, looking for a price tag. Looking for a way to make Jesus useful, not worshipped. Looking to gain something, not give something.

The woman gave everything to honor Jesus.
Judas gave Jesus up for a handful of silver.

Same setting. Same Savior. Two radically different responses.

We all have to wrestle with this question: Do I truly treasure Jesus, or do I just transact with Him? Do I give Him what’s costly, or do I manage my faith to keep things convenient? Do I bring Him my heart, or look for what He can do for me?

Let’s not be too quick to assume we’re the woman. Sometimes, we come with motives that resemble Judas. We attend church, say the right words, maybe even give a little, but deep down, we’re asking: What do I get out of this?

And Jesus sees through it all. He always has.

So ask yourself honestly: Do I see a Savior to love—or a Lord to leverage?

#TreasureOrTransaction, #Mark14, #CostlyWorship

ASK THIS:

1. What did the woman’s actions say about how she valued Jesus?
2. Why did Judas’s response to Jesus take such a dark turn?
3. Are there ways you’ve treated Jesus more like a transaction than a treasure?
4. What’s one costly act of devotion you’ve been resisting?

DO THIS:

Write down what you’re most tempted to pursue instead of Jesus. Lay it before Him today. Choose to treasure Him over everything else.

PRAY THIS:

Jesus, I don’t want to treat you like a transaction. You’re not a means to an end. You’re the treasure. Help me worship like you’re worth everything—because you are. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

“Alabaster Heart”