year’s worth of wages

Wheresover This Gospel Shall Be Preached

In Mark Chapter 14, the Bible tells us of a woman that anointed Jesus before His death on the cross. The apostle John tells us that the woman who does this is Mary, the sister of Martha. I’ll read several verses shortly, but I’m asking you to notice that Jesus says these words: Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached.

Mark 14:3-9 states:  And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat (a table), there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence (about a year’s wages), and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

The Account Is True!

First off, Jesus tells us that when this true story is relayed, the fact that Mary anointed Him with ointment before His burial should be retold as a memorial to Mary. This is important to Jesus. Mary did this to honor our Lord. It shows her love and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord of her life. She poured a whole year’s worth of wages of ointment out upon Jesus. Can you say the same tonight? Those of us who profess to be Christians, do we have this kind of devotion to our Lord and Savior?

The second point is Jesus’ words: Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached. Jesus expects the Gospel to be preached, to be shared with others. How many times have you heard good-intentioned professing Christians say that they live their lives so others can see Jesus? In other words, they don’t have to share their faith in Christ, others will just see how they live and “know” that they are a Christian and somehow that’s going to also cause the other person to become a Christian.

But is that what Jesus said? Did He say just live your life and others will automatically come to Me too? No He did not! Jesus said, “Wheresoever this Gospel is preached.” This Gospel. Preached. Jesus expects us to use words and for us to share the glorious Gospel with others. This is what Jesus says to do. Yes, true believers are to live holy lives, but we must share the Gospel with others.

What Is The Gospel?

What is the Gospel? The apostle Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit tells us what the Gospel is in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

The Gospel is good news and that good news is that Jesus died for our sins just like His death was predicted in the Old Testament. Christ Jesus was buried and rose again from the dead on the third day, again, just like the Scriptures predicted in the Old Testament. The good news is that Jesus, the sinless Son of God took our punishment, the punishment that we deserve over our sins and He bore them as He hung on the cross where God poured His anger over sin out upon His own precious Son. People, like to talk about love (when they really aren’t talking about love at all), but this is true love!

The Lord Takes Your Sins And God Credits You With The Righteousness Of Jesus

Jesus takes your sins and carries them upon His shoulders as he hung on that cruel cross and God now imputes or credits you with Jesus’ righteousness. In other words, God no longer sees you or I as a wicked, vile sinner when we surrender our lives to Christ Jesus. But God commendeth (demonstrates) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

Salvation is offered freely even though it was a very costly gift, but you must receive it. You are not automatically saved just because Jesus suffered, bled and died in the place of guilty sinners like you and me. No you must receive this free gift.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Confess With Your Mouth

Romans 10:8-15 says: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek (Gentile): for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

The Whole World

The last two verses work into the third point, Jesus said, “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world.” Again, Jesus expects the Gospel to be preached or shared and he also said throughout the whole world. Sometimes we catch grief for sharing the Gospel in downtown Springfield, MO and at other places in this area. But Jesus said throughout the whole world. Springfield, MO is part of the world,

I have a friend who just spent several years in China with his whole family and they shared the Gospel while living there. It’s my understanding that they want to go back some day. I have another friend who has made several trips to Ukraine during the war with Russia and he’s also getting ready to head back there. Praise God for these men and many other Christians who are called and obedient to God to share the Gospel around the world. There are others of us that God calls to share the Gospel locally where we live. But share the Gospel we are called to do if we are true believers.

In Matthew 24:14 Jesus says: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. The apostle Paul says in Acts 13:47: For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

Repentance Toward God And Faith In Our Lord Jesus Christ

Paul also states in Acts 20:19-24: Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Are You Damned?

To me, the clearest directive from Jesus about sharing the Gospel with all the world is His words that He spoke after His resurrection. This is when Jesus told his disciples: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:15-16). Folks, this is the bottom line, if Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior, then you are ALREADY damned! Judgement Day is not hearing date. No, it’s a sentencing date. Don’t continue rebelling against God.

Oh, don’t continue going through life with God’s wrath abiding on you. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36). Don’t continue barreling down that broad road to Hell. Instead, turn to Christ and live. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Cry out for God to have mercy upon your soul. Repent of your sins and surrender your life to Jesus. Do this today and be saved. Then, share the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ with others.

(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfied, MO on September 2, 2022)