During the last week of Jesus' earthly life, He again visited the home of His friends in Bethany. A dinner was prepared in His honor and Martha served, as usual. Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead, sat at the table with the others who accompanied the Master. "Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 'That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.' Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. Jesus replied, 'Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.' ” (John 12:3-8)
How could Judas have been so grasping, implying that giving to the poor—although that is not what he actually intended to do—was a worthier cause than expressing devotion to the Lord? Is there such a thing as lavishing too much love on Him? Is anything we pour out for Him truly wasted? Mary did not think so—and neither did Jesus.
What if Mary had hesitated? "Maybe this would embarrass Jesus; I know for certain that the disciples will not understand." "Maybe I should wait until some time when we are alone." "Martha and Lazarus will think I am foolish; I have scrimped and saved all my life for this little jar." "It—really—is—a lot of money." "And if I pour out all of this oil, there will be none for my own burial." So many objections Mary might have considered, but she chose instead to "waste" her precious treasure.
Just a few days later, Jesus was arrested in the garden, found guilty of claiming to be the Son of God, and executed on a cross. Among the crowd witnessing the awful event, were a number of women who were followers of Jesus. They observed the tomb where His body was laid, and went home to prepare spices and fragrant oils for perfuming the dead. After the Sabbath ended, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing their gifts. But the tomb was empty! Jesus was gone!
What if Mary had kept for herself the costly perfume instead of pouring it on Jesus? She never had another chance to demonstrate her devotion. Jesus had told the observers, "She did this ahead of time for my burial." He meant exactly that, for it was the only opportunity she had to pour the precious ointment on her Lord.
If we have an offering of love to "waste" on Jesus, some words or actions fragrant with grace to honor Him, let us do it now.
MaryMartha
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Scripture quotation is taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.
Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com
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