Daily devotion – Mary’s anointing of worship
Mar 14:8 “She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.”
Christians often try to explain their service, worship, and adoration of God to people of the world. They will never understand just like Judas never understood Mary’s anointing of Jesus.
In the village of Bethany, located just outside of Jerusalem, Jesus was having a meal as the guest of one known as Simon the leper, whose leprosy obviously had been healed by Jesus. As Jesus was reclining at the meal, a woman approached Him from behind. John tells us in his Gospel account, that this is Mary of Bethany, one of the two sisters of Lazarus, who Jesus had recently raised from the dead – John 12:1-8.
Mary brought with her an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She broke the jar and poured the perfume over Jesus feet John says, whilst Mark adds that she also poured it over Jesus head. Mary was both acknowledging Jesus as the true Messiah and also anointing His body for the death He was about to suffer.
Judas was very upset with Mary’s actions and said it was a great waste of money that could have been used for the poor. It is believed the perfume and its amount would equate to some $35 – 40,000 in todays value.
Mary got quite a rebuking as she was worshipping Jesus with this amazing personal sacrifice.
But Jesus came swiftly to Mary’s defence. From His words we glean 5 truths of powerful significance we each should note. Firstly, Mary had not done a wasteful thing at all, but a “beautiful thing” Mark 14:6, expressing her wholehearted devotion to her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Secondly, she was in no way demeaning the poor but was daring to put Jesus above them. Thirdly, Mary had done what she could, according to her personal resources, while recognising that other people serve Jesus in other ways. Fourthly, Mary had poured perfume over Jesus body, anticipating the anointing Jesus would receive at the time of His burial.
Lastly, Mary and her act of generous love would be remembered wherever the Gospel would be preached throughout the world.
Mary’s act of self-sacrifice is deliberately set in relief by Mark against the dark cloud of Judas’s act of treachery which was yet to come.
May you worship Christ with all that you have and declare to Him and those around you of your love for Him, no matter what anyone says!