What would it look like to give your very best to Jesus — not what's left over, not what's convenient, but your actual best? That's the question sitting at the center of Mark chapter 14, and it comes to life through one of the most striking contrasts in all of the Gospels.

In the same passage, on what feels like the same night, we have a woman who breaks open an entire year's worth of perfume and pours it over Jesus's head — and a disciple who slips away from the table to sell Him out for money. Devotion and betrayal, side by side. Mark puts them there on purpose, and I think we're meant to feel the discomfort of that.

Here's what gets me about the woman: nobody defends her. The people at the table — including the disciples — moralize about what a waste it is, what the money could have done for the poor. And Jesus steps in and says, leave her alone. She did what she could. I want us to just sit with that for a second. She did what she could. Not what was expected. Not what made sense to everyone else. What she could. And Jesus says that every time the gospel is preached, people will remember what she did — which is remarkable when you consider that women in that culture had no vote, no voice, and no property rights.

And then there's Judas — the one holding the money bag, the one moralizing about how the perfume should have been given to the poor — who is at that very moment plotting to hand Jesus over for cash. The irony is impossible to miss. You can be religious and still be completely missing it. You can be physically close to Jesus and have a heart that's miles away.

We also spend time in the upper room, where Jesus takes the Passover meal — one of the most sacred remembrances in all of Judaism — and completely redefines it. The bread is His body. The wine is His blood. He is the Passover lamb. The freedom from bondage that God's people had been celebrating for centuries? Jesus is saying that's me. That's what I'm about to do. And this table, He says, is for everyone — the devoted and the broken and even the betrayer.

So here's the question I'm leaving with all of us today: what would costly devotion actually look like in your life right now? Not in theory — in practice. Is it your time? Your forgiveness? A relationship you've been holding at arm's length from God? What would it look like to bring your whole heart?

Want More?
📖 Read along: Mark 14:1–11 and 22–26
📖 Old Testament context worth exploring: Exodus 12(the original Passover story) and 2 Samuel 24:24("I will not sacrifice to the Lord what costs me nothing")
📖 Closing Psalm: Psalm 73:25
📚 Book mentioned: Brave Enough by Nicole Unice — on what it looks like to follow Jesus with courage and grace in everyday life. Find it at NicoleUnice.com
📧 Sign up for Nicole's monthly newsletter at NicoleUnice.com/realtalk
💬 Leave a comment on YouTube — Nicole loves hearing from the community!

What would it look like to give your very best to Jesus &mdash; not what's left over, not what's convenient, but your actual best? That's the question sitting at the center of Mark chapter 14, and it comes to life through one of the most striking contrasts in all of the Gospels.
In the same passage, on what feels like the same night, we have a woman who breaks open an entire year's worth of perfume and pours it over Jesus's head &mdash; and a disciple who slips away from the table to sell Him out for money. Devotion and betrayal, side by side. Mark puts them there on purpose, and I think we're meant to feel the discomfort of that.
Here's what gets me about the woman: nobody defends her. The people at the table &mdash; including the disciples &mdash; moralize about what a waste it is, what the money could have done for the poor. And Jesus steps in and says, leave her alone. She did what she could. I want us to just sit with that for a second. She did what she could. Not what was expected. Not what made sense to everyone else. What she could. And Jesus says that every time the gospel is preached, people will remember what she did &mdash; which is remarkable when you consider that women in that culture had no vote, no voice, and no property rights.
And then there's Judas &mdash; the one holding the money bag, the one moralizing about how the perfume should have been given to the poor &mdash; who is at that very moment plotting to hand Jesus over for cash. The irony is impossible to miss. You can be religious and still be completely missing it. You can be physically close to Jesus and have a heart that's miles away.
We also spend time in the upper room, where Jesus takes the Passover meal &mdash; one of the most sacred remembrances in all of Judaism &mdash; and completely redefines it. The bread is His body. The wine is His blood. He is the Passover lamb. The freedom from bondage that God's people had been celebrating for centuries? Jesus is saying that's me. That's what I'm about to do. And this table, He says, is for everyone &mdash; the devoted and the broken and even the betrayer.
So here's the question I'm leaving with all of us today: what would costly devotion actually look like in your life right now? Not in theory &mdash; in practice. Is it your time? Your forgiveness? A relationship you've been holding at arm's length from God? What would it look like to bring your whole heart?
Want More?
<ul>
<li>📖 Read along: Mark 14:1&ndash;11 and 22&ndash;26</li>
<li>📖 Old Testament context worth exploring: Exodus 12 (the original Passover story) and 2 Samuel 24:24 ("I will not sacrifice to the Lord what costs me nothing")</li>
<li>📖 Closing Psalm: Psalm 73:25</li>
<li>📚 Book mentioned: Brave Enough by Nicole Unice &mdash; on what it looks like to follow Jesus with courage and grace in everyday life. Find it at <a href="https://nicoleunice.com/">NicoleUnice.com</a></li>
<li>📧 Sign up for Nicole's monthly newsletter at <a href="https://nicoleunice.com/realtalk/">NicoleUnice.com/realtalk</a></li>
<li>💬 Leave a comment on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@NicoleUnice">YouTube</a> &mdash; Nicole loves hearing from the community!</li>
</ul>

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do!

But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way.

In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 

Topics covered in this podcast:

💡 Three Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible
💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life
💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We've covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!)
💡 Topical Bible study lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and more
💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life
💡 4 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture

To find more from Nicole, visit https://nicoleunice.com/.

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do! But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way. In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 
Topics covered in this podcast:
💡 Three Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible 💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life 💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We've covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!) 💡 Topical Bible study lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and more 💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life 💡 4 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture
To find more from Nicole, visit <a href="https://nicoleunice.com/">https://nicoleunice.com/</a>.

How to Study the Bible - Bible Study Made Simple

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do!

But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way.

In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 

Topics covered in this podcast:

💡 Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible
💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life
💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We've covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!)
💡 Topical Bible Study Lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and More
💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life
💡 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture

To find more from Nicole, visit https://nicoleunice.com/.

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do! But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way. In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 
Topics covered in this podcast:
💡 Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible 💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life 💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We've covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!) 💡 Topical Bible Study Lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and More 💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life 💡 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture
To find more from Nicole, visit <a href="https://nicoleunice.com/">https://nicoleunice.com/</a>.

How To Study The Bible - Bible Study Made Simple

Proximity to Jesus Is Not the Same as Surrender to Him | Mark 14

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/4c06795e-6fc9-4157-a05d-b44e00018a1d/transcript