Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet wither hair.
John 12:1-3
Mary knew how to worship Jesus with all of her heart, soul, strength and mind. She offered Him everything that she had in complete surrender.
The expensive perfume may have been her dowry, the only thing that she had of value. It represented the one thing that she had to offer if she hoped to marry. She unbound her hair, which respectable women of that day did not do, because she was not concerned with what people thought. She took her hair and wiped His feet with the perfume. I can only imagine the scene… everyone was prepared to eat, perhaps the room was filled with laughter and talking, and then a loud sound… a broken bottle and a fragrance filled the room. The people were silenced; the stares were threatening. But Mary only had eyes for Jesus. She came to worship, and worship she would do.
Her reputation did not concern her; she was caught up in worship. One of the disciples, Judas, scolded her for wasting such a costly gift. In pretense of being pious, he suggested that she could have sold it for the poor, but Mary did not flinch. She had eyes only for her Lord. Jesus knew that His day of betrayal was near and that Mary’s act of worship had a deeper significance; it was the preparation for His burial.
As you read through the story of Mary in today’s Scripture reading, could you put yourself in Mary’s place? Could you relate to her act of worship and her determination to keep her eyes on Christ alone?
Jesus is calling us to Himself. He desires intimacy with His bride, the church. He is calling to you today to sit at His feet and worship – leaving the crowds, laying aside the busyness of the day or the concern over what others will think. He is calling you to sit at His feet. It is the sweet fragrance of worship that will fill the room.
Heavenly Father,
I praise and worship You, closing out the world and the things that cry out for attention. I sit at Your feet and break open the jar of my life, offering You the fragrance that comes from brokenness as I worship You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
