I sometimes wonder what everyone thinks about the various protests going on around the country.  I imagine most of us feel somewhat divided about them, because so many different issues are being protested.  We may agree with some and disagree with others.  Some of the protests are peaceful … and some are not.  Some of the protests have seen the police come alongside … and some have seen the police come against.  It can be hard to understand because most of these issues are so complex.  And sometimes it would be easier to comprehend what everyone is doing if it was just simpler.

While pondering these current events, I was reminded that as Christians, we have a history of protests.  After all, we’re Protestants (which actually has more to do with witnessing than protesting but that’s another thought for another time).  The Reformation was certainly a time of great protest by the church.  For that matter, the first three centuries AD were marked by Christians standing up against the culture, often protesting to the point of death.

Our text this week shows us a protest that’s both peaceful and profound, stands up to the prevailing culture and yet it’s sweetly simple.  It was immensely practical, and yet the accusation was made that it was clearly impractical.  As you may have guessed, we’ve come to the story in Mark 14:1-11 of Jesus being anointed by the woman at Bethany.

So much can be said about this text, but we’re going to focus in on the question … What does it mean to love one another?  Especially when it’s costly, when it takes a certain amount of courage, and when it creates controversy.  Sometimes the simple stories in the gospels are the most interesting.  I’ll guess we’ll find out, see you Sunday, Dr. Dave

PS – Please note that Battlefield Parkway has been closed on both sides of Route 7.  That means if you’re coming from Leesburg and points south and west, you’ll need to stay on the Rt. 15 bypass and get off at Fort Evans Road (next to the Outlet Mall), then take a right onto Potomac Station Drive to get to Harper Park.  If you’re coming from the east on Rt. 7, get off at River Creek Parkway, then turn left onto Potomac Station Drive.