Unamed, Unwanted, Unwelcomed, but Not Forgotten

Mk14:3-9 “Jesus was at Bethany visiting the house of Simon, who had a skin disease. During dinner, a woman came in with a vase made of alabaster and containing very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke open the vase and poured the perfume on his head. Some grew angry. They said to each other, “Why waste the perfume? This perfume could have been sold for almost a year’s pay and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for me. You always have the poor with you; and whenever you want, you can do something good for them. But you won’t always have me. She has done what she could. She has anointed my body ahead of time for burial. I tell you the truth that, wherever in the whole world the good news is announced, what she’s done will also be told in memory of her.””

Luke 21:1-4 “Looking up, Jesus saw rich people throwing their gifts into the collection box for the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow throw in two small copper coins worth a penny. He said, “I assure you that this poor widow has put in more than them all. All of them are giving out of their spare change. But she from her hopeless poverty has given everything she had to live on.””

Genesis 21:17 “God heard the boy’s cries, and God’s messenger called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “Hagar! What’s wrong? Don’t be afraid. God has heard the boy’s cries ...”

Throughout Scripture, women have always been EARLY in recognizing God’s plan and partnering with the Holy Spirit...

Moses’ wife Zipporah recognized that God had set his people apart as a people of his own...

Rahab, an abused and used woman, recognized the God of Israel and was saved at Jericho...

Mary recognized the angel of the Lord.... “Be it unto me according to your word”

Elizabeth recognized something new was breaking in when she was pregnant with John the Baptist

The mothering nature is a DISCERNING spirit…able to recognize God through a special sensitivity.

Unnamed & Unwanted Women

It’s interesting in Scripture that when Jesus wanted to point to examples of extravagant worship he pointed to a woman that no one else thought to even catch her name!

One was likely a regular follower of Jesus who worshipped Jesus with her life’s saving (value of a year’s salary)

another was a widow who didn’t have the money for a loaf of bread, but she gave everything she had as an act of worship.

The third was an Egyptian slave girl living in fear for her life and the life of her son.

He doesn’t point to a wealthy ruler, or a successful businessman, or a pastor, or a big donor....he chose two women who tapped into the REAL TRUTH behind worship....

TRUTH: The eyes of God are not drawn to power or prestige or worldly importance....God’s attention is drawn to a surrendered heart of worship.

2 Chronicles 16:9 “because the Lord’s eyes scan the whole world to strengthen those who are committed to him with all their hearts...””

Woman with the Alabaster Box

Unnamed by the author

Uninvited by the host

Unwelcome by the disciples

But…

Uninhibited in her faith

Unashamed in her worship

Unwavering in her obedience

She might have been ignored by everyone else around her…but her worship and desperation grabbed the attention of Jesus!

Principle: Our worship is a locator beacon for God’s miraculous provision!

How many of you have a tendency to lose things?? Recently Apple created these small inserts called “airtags”. You can attach them to the thing you don’t want to lose and it will send out a signal to let you know where it is....

That’s the way worship works…it creates a signal that opens the heavens to God’s provision in our lives.

The woman in Mark 14 created an “airtag” with her worship....the aroma of her worship and prayers went up...God’s provision and peace came down!!

Abraham and Isaac went up the mountain “to worship”....and God’s provision came down in the form of a ram caught in the thicket....

The perfume from this woman’s alabaster box filled the room and settled on Jesus!! …and her sacrifice unlocked a door to the Kingdom of God. (she was getting in on Jesus’ resurrection!!)

Whenever you determine in your heart to worship with your giving, the aroma of your offering settles on Jesus and UNLOCKS his PROMISES over your life and over your family.

The Power of a Praying Woman

How many countless mothers in history have prayed in desperation over their children??

There is just something about the heart of a mother that refuses to give up…they are persistent prayers!

When asked what was the secret to her life, Mother Teresa answered... “My secret is quite simple. I pray.”

When we call out on the name of Jesus in worship and prayer…when we recognize the presence of Jesus…the atmosphere of our life begins to change, and our eyes are open to NEW LIFE!!

The first person to ever give God a name in Scripture was a forgotten and marginalized woman (a desperate mother)....

Genesis 16:7-13 “The Lord’s messenger found Hagar at a spring in the desert, the spring on the road to Shur, and said, “Hagar! Sarai’s servant! Where did you come from and where are you going?” She said, “From Sarai my mistress. I’m running away.” The Lord’s messenger said to her, “Go back to your mistress. Put up with her harsh treatment of you.” The Lord’s messenger also said to her, “I will give you many children, so many they can’t be counted!” The Lord’s messenger said to her, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You will name him Ishmael because the Lord has heard about your harsh treatment. He will be a wild mule of a man; he will fight everyone, and they will fight him. He will live at odds with all his relatives.” Hagar named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are El Roi” because she said, “Can I still see after he saw me?””

The Bible doesn’t say who this angel is, but look at what the angel says.... “I will surely multiply your offspring...”

Christophany: an appearance of the resurrected Christ.

*I am reminded today that it is often the heart of a mother that is sensitive enough to find Jesus in seasons of desperation.

Jesus is close to those who call out to him with a Heart of Worship

It’s often in our place of desperation that we find the God that was there all along.

The thing that makes you broken is often the very thing that God uses to show up in you life.

Illustration: it was in our miscarriages that we experienced God’s presence the most in our family and marriage.

When no one else seems to notice your desperation…God’s eyes are on you.

You might feel forgotten, but YOU ARE KNOWN by God!

Genesis 21:17–19 CEB

God heard the boy’s cries, and God’s messenger called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “Hagar! What’s wrong? Don’t be afraid. God has heard the boy’s cries over there. Get up, pick up the boy, and take him by the hand because I will make of him a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well. She went over, filled the water flask, and gave the boy a drink.