November 20: Better than words

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil — pure and expensive nard — anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray Him), said, “Why wasn’t this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?” He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it. Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”  (John 12:1-8 — Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Think about this… Mary and Martha's brother had died and was buried for three days (John 11), when Jesus came and raised him from the dead. Now they were at a celebration dinner in honor of Jesus, and Lazarus was there, alive and healthy. Other passages reveal that Mary anointed not only Jesus’ feet, but also His head, with perfume that Judas said could have fetched 300 denarii in the market. That would equal approximately one year’s wages since a denarii was a laborer’s daily wage.

The custom of the time was to anoint the heads of guests that came to your house. Anointing Jesus’ head with expensive perfume was an act of honor on Mary’s part, but then turning to anoint His feet and wiping them with her hair took this honor to a whole new level. Her actions must have, in part, been to thank Jesus for raising her brother from the dead, but they must also have been an expression of how He was her Lord and she was His follower. 

Though Judas complained about Mary’s sacrifice, nothing we have is too much for Jesus. He gave everything for us, and nothing we give can ever repay Him for all he’s done — but on the other hand, this does not mean we should not at times give to God. Jesus did not stop her from doing this. He didn’t say that it was a waste. The problem is that most people are willing to spend large sums of money on houses, cars, clothing, restaurants, vacations, education, etc., but feel angered by any suggestion that they give back to God. The great danger is that they side with Judas and not Mary in this story. She ended up saved, Judas ended up lost. Another verse says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Don’t love money, or family, or spouse, or life more than Jesus. He needs to be first, even in our giving and spending.