“Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil spikenard, anointing the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil (perfume).”
In these few verses of John 12, we have a story that displays the characteristics of: hospitality, hunger for God, worship, and greed. All in that order. Notice the motivation of the players:
A. MARTHA SERVED.
She had a servant's heart. Jesus also came to earth as a servant and did not feel it was below Him to wash feet! We are also called to serve the Lord and others.
B. LAZARUS LEARNED.
He reclined at the table with Jesus. The custom of a teacher was to teach His disciples as they eat. We need to teach our children the ways of the Lord also.
C. MARY WORSHIPPED.
Worship is the demonstration of love. It is love in action. We are to worship the Lord for all the good things He has done for us.
D. JUDAS GRUMBLED.
He was only concerned with the cost.
But it is of Mary I would like to talk about mainly!
1. HER LOVE WAS LAVISH!
A. IT WAS ALL SHE HAD TO GIVE!
In one lavished act she poured a full pound of very expensive perfume over her Saviour's feet. This perfume was very EXPENSIVE! Judas valued it as a year's wages in cost. Giving that costs us nothing, is valueless. No! This gift was of great cost.
B. SHE GIVES IN LOVE.
Jesus said: “She did what she could!” We usually use this phrase when we want to excuse ourselves for doing little! “It is not much, but it is all that I can do!” Jesus was saying: “She did everything it was possible for her to do!” She could not do any more! She did what she could, God never expects anymore, and He never expects less.
2. HER LOVE WAS SENSITIVE!
“She has kept this for my burial” said Jesus in verse 7.
Somehow she had grasped the truth of His coming sacrifice. The shadow of the CROSS already reached her spirit! She was the one who had “chosen the better part,” that is the act of worship. Worship is the better part because those who are close to God's heart know the plans of God.
God has a multitude of Martha’s, people who want desperately to work for Him. He had myriads like Lazarus, who wanted to learn from Him. We all need to SERVE Him; we all need to LEARN from Him. But have you ever thought for a moment: "What God wants from you?" He wants you to LOVE Him! He needs people like Mary to worship Him in love!
3. HER LOVE WAS CRITICISED!
Judas murmured against her for her wastefulness. Even when you do the right thing you are criticised! See how holy Judas made himself out to be! He said “the POOR have need of this.” It was a waste of money, when the poor are hungry, and You are dripping in perfume!
Yet verse 6 says, “He said this, NOT because he cared for the POOR, but because he was a thief, and had stolen from the bag.” When anyone tells us that any expense spent on Christ is a waste, please remember where that spirit comes from! How do we then silence criticism?
1. PRAYER. How can they fight against someone's prayers?
2. SILENCE. How can they argue against someone who will not answer back?
3. LOVE. How can they fight someone who really loves them?
4. HER LOVE ENDURES!
“This act shall be told all over the world wherever the Gospel is preached in memory of her” Matthew 26:13.
Nearly 2,000 years have gone by and Mary's act of love still endures, it is still remembered! We are fulfilling this prophecy here today, reminding ourselves of Mary's act of lavished love upon Jesus her Saviour!
“And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” Even when the guests had left, the fragrance lingered on. As the family rested that night, the house was filled with the fragrance of her act of love.
CONCLUSION:
Note: as Jesus walked the streets in the days to follow as He prayed, as He worked His miracles, as He talked to those around Him. The fragrance of the perfume lingered with Him. For the greatest of all, is the GIFT OF LOVE.
HOW WILL YOU SHOW YOUR LOVE TO JESUS TODAY?
