"Anointed With Honor" Series

He knew her heart. He didn’t commend Simon for feeding him, or Martha for serving, or the disciples for being concerned about the poor. But He spoke eternal blessing on the head of the one who, without a word, without fanfare, without asking anyone’s leave to do so, gave of herself spontaneously in possibly the most humble, quiet act of mercy recorded in the scriptures.

What do you suppose prompted her? Jesus said that she had saved the nard for the sake of His anointing for burial. But did He mean she did this consciously? Or did He mean that she had been impressed by the Holy Spirit to do so, even though she didn’t know what was coming?

Well, we do know that Jesus had already told His disciples precisely what was going to transpire in Jerusalem. Coming down from the Mount of Transfiguration He had spoken very clearly, and told them He was going to die; what manner of death it would be; and that on the third day He would rise from the dead. But they didn’t catch on then. Their minds were confused and they didn’t understand Him.

So did Mary? Is it possible that this uneducated, quiet woman of humble means and social status understood more than these men who had been with Him constantly for over three years?

Well we certainly can’t discount the possibility. There have been plenty of times my wife has had to rescue me from my cluelessness.

Remember, she was the one who was content to sit as Jesus’ feet and learn while her sister bustled about serving brunch.

My friends, when we truly love someone, what they have to say is important to us. We listen and we are in tune with their concerns and their desires, and their hurts and their joys...

The disciples loved Him, each on some level, to be sure. But they also were burdened with other issues that denied them the simplicity of love that she possessed.

They had ambitions. “Lord, who will be greatest?” Their minds were preoccupied with current politics. “Lord, is it at this time you will establish your kingdom?” They were still very wrapped up in themselves; very self-concerned. Peter was just downright blatant about it! “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?”

“What’s in it for us? What’s in it for me?” Three years with the One they professed to believe in as the long-awaited Messiah, watching the selfless pouring out of all His time and energies to do His Father’s bidding, giving of Himself completely to them; teaching them, providing for them, healing them, showing them how to pray, telling them what Heaven would be like, sacrificing Himself physically to accomplish His work so much that at 30 years of age the Pharisees thought He looked closer to 50.

And the disciples are brassy enough to ask, “What’s in it for me?” Christians, He’s already told us what’s in it for us. When we look at these men, and compare them to Mary, shouldn’t we be moved to look away from our perceived needs and the concerns of this world and choose the simpler, nobler course of Mary; seeking Him only for Himself and rather than looking for things to do for Him, just love Him by laying our lives at His feet?