She hesitates in the doorway separating the two rooms. Through the opening she sees her sister Martha hard at work helping Simon’s wife prepare the evening meal in the kitchen. She listens to the laughter and conversation as it drifts through the house. She hears Simon make a joke at Peter’s expense. The fisherman joins in the light-hearted talk his loud, coarse laugh raising above the din. They are all there she knows. Peter, James, John and the rest of the disciples. Simon called the Leper. Her own brother Lazarus. And Jesus. The reason for the celebration. Lately come from Galilee, he has caused quite a stir in Jerusalem this Passover and Simon’s home provides a much needed break from the coming storm. She shivers a bit as she ponders that dark thought. It almost seems that Jesus is determined to do something dramatic. Something even greater than the miracle of raising her brother from the dead. There is something about to happen, she can see it in his eyes. Somehow sadder than she has ever seen before. And she is frightened by that look. But tonight is a night for celebrating and she wants to do her part. Clutching the fragile alabaster jar to her chest she enters the main room.
At first no one notices her arrival. Caught up in the revelry, they do not see her walk and stand behind Jesus. She takes the jar of perfume, given her so many years ago by her mother, in anticipation of her wedding night, and breaks the thin neck with an audible crack. Immediately the air is filled with the sweet perfume. Made from the finest ingredients brought all the way from India, its fragrance quickly spreads throughout the room. Catching the scent, all eyes turn toward her. Before she loses her nerve, she quickly pours the entire bottle over the head of Jesus. It runs down over his neck and upon his beard. Carefully she captures some of the thick liquid and kneels at his side. Lovingly she rubs it into the top of his feet. He smiles warmly down at her and her heart leaps with joy.
But the joy is short lived. The accusing words of Judas rip the air. “What a waste!”
Mary looks up shock evident in her eyes. “Why that perfume costs a working man a year’s wages. And you just pour it out!” Philip chimes in: “You could have sold it for more than 300 denarius and given it to the poor!” Mary’s face flushes with embarrassment. Hot tears form in the corner of her eyes. She stumbles trying to get up and run from the room. It is then she feels Jesus take her hand. Standing beside her he turns to the others. “Why are you saying these things? Mary has done a beautiful thing to me.” Drawing her close he continues, “The poor you can always do good for, but I will be with you only a little while longer. Mary has done what she could to prepare for that day I am taken away.” Smiling he caresses her hair, “I tell you the truth whenever the Good News is proclaimed in this whole world, people will remember what she has done tonight.”
This account of the anointing of Jesus in Bethany stands out like a rose in the midst of thorns. What had begun with the triumphal entry on Sunday had quickly degenerated into a witchhunt with Jesus as the prey. And now on Wednesday the forces of darkness were gathering in full strength as the religious leaders plot to find a way to kill Jesus and by night’s end find the means as one of the Savior’s own men, Judas, agrees to betray him for the price of a slave. Yet between these twin pole of evil, Matthew records this compelling scene around the dinner table in the house of Simon the Leper. And in a way this powerful demonstration of love only serves to heighten the villainy of the hateful deeds plotted that night. What are we to make of this story? What insights can we gain from the actions of Mary? I think we find our answer by considering Jesus’ own commentary upon the event. Notice what he says: “She has done a beautiful thing to me. And this thing will be remembered whenever the Gospel is preached.” A prophetic word come true today as we consider again this act of devotion. I think the question we would do well to answer this morning is this: “Why was this a beautiful thing? What about this simple act was worthy of Jesus’ praise and admiration?” I would have you consider with me just four things.
First, this action was beautiful because it was done to Jesus. Since this dinner party was being held in Simon’s house, Mary must have decided before hand that she was going to do this for Jesus. She made a conscious decision when she left her home to bring this bottle of perfume to pour upon Jesus. She meant to do this thing to honor him alone. She didn’t bring it to share with the host Simon or with her brother Lazarus, or with any of the disciples. She did it for his sake. Out of reverence and devotion to who he was. True the others would be able to enjoy the fragrance of the perfume, but it was not for them; it was for him and him alone. Notice also that she did not delegate the responsibility. She could have asked one of the servant to anoint Jesus. That was their duty. Yet it was her devotion. So she herself broke open the flask and poured it out. She knelt and worked it into his feet. In her actions she made it clear that she was doing this for Jesus alone. Not for any vain glory or personal attention, but for his honor and his glory.
Friends, when is the last time you did something for Jesus? For him alone? For his honor and not your own? For his glory, not our glory? Not for the attention of men; not for their praises and pats on the back? But because you wanted to do something for Jesus, just because of who he is? Sadly such spontaneous acts of devotion are lacking in our day and age. Far too often we ask “What’s in it for me?” “Where’s the payoff?” We need to learn from Mary the joy of a spontaneous expression of devotion and praise. “Something for thee, oh Lord, something for thee,” this should be our continuing song.
Second, let us note that this was a beautiful thing because it was an act of love. No one forced Mary to do this thing. Simon did not say, “Mary would you bring nard to anoint Jesus as he reclines at my table?” What she did she did out of an overwhelming love for Jesus. Many times she had sat at his feet, listening to the Good News. She was commended by him for choosing the good part. From his lips, she heard the message of salvation pure and free. And she had also received her own personal miracle as Jesus brought back form the dead her dear brother Lazarus. Who this very night sat alive and well beside Jesus. How the love must have welled up within her! How great and precious was the gifts offered by this one! How could she not break forth in praise? How could she not offer the best of her devotion to the one who has blessed her so much? It was not compulsion, but a heart-felt devotion that caused her to break open the flask and pour forth the rich perfume upon her Master’s head.
There is a part of me that feels guilty as I ponder this loving action of Mary. I am forced to ask myself, “Do I love my Lord as much as she?” Like Mary, I have seen the multitude of blessing he has bestowed upon my life? The grace, the mercy the love. I have experienced salvation rich and free. I have received that grace upon grace, which John’s Gospel records. Have I ever loved him so much...as Mary loved him...to respond in an outpouring of that love? And what has been my expression of that love? What about you? Do you love him? Has he blessed your life in any way that would compel you to offer to him such an outpouring of love? Then dear friends, act upon that love. Express it...to him.
Thirdly, this act of Mary was a beautiful thing because it was an act of extravagance. Matthew says that she brought an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. Judas brings the value to our attention. In John’s account of this deed, he points out that this perfume cost over 300 denarii. The equivalent of a year’s wages. This was no bargain store fragrance, no Shopko gift, this was the most expensive of the day, far surpassing the price of Chanel # 5 or anything by Elizabeth Taylor. It was made from the finest of ingredients gathered some say at the very foot of the Himalayas. Brought all the way from India; it was probably given to Mary by her mother in anticipation of her wedding night. She could have easily brought any of other fragrances in her cabinet, but she chose the very best. Nothing else would do. It was a costly gift. An extravagant expression. Yet freely she poured it out upon his head.
We sing on occasion the song “Give Of Your Best To The Master,” yet how often do we truly do just that? Could our devotion rightly be described as “extravagant?” Or are we far to often like Judas calculating the cost? Deciding the least amount of time and money we can give to Him and still feel good about ourselves? Friends, does he not deserve our very best? Our best offering? Our best songs? Our best service? It might be a widow’s mite or a million dollars. It may be a glorious solo or just a joyful noise. But it should be our best. Must I not ask myself, “Do I bring my best effort into this pulpit? Do I offer to him my best prayers? My best worship?” Should not each of you ask, “Do I do my best with whatever he has given me. And do I shine for him wherever he has placed me?” Would you have your actions called beautiful? Then give to him the best that you have to offer.
Finally I would have you see that Mary’s act was a beautiful thing because it was a total act. Mary did not spare anything when she poured forth that perfume. Once the bottle was broken open it could not be closed. It could not be saved for further use. There was no turning back. It was a once for all time commitment. And Mary held nothing back. None for herself or for anyone else, but Jesus. It was all for him. The whole she poured out upon his head and feet. And as she anointed him the fragrance filled the entire room. There was no part of the house untouched by her action. This was no deed done is private, it was out there for all to witness. It was an act of whole-hearted devotion. A public testimony to her love and commitment to this man. And the flask once for all broken and poured out will be remembered of her throughout all ages.
Can you make such a commitment today? Are you willing to give him not only your best, but your all? Is there some area of your life which you need to break open for Christ? Is there some part of you that needs to be poured out completely this morning? It may be your finances, your marriage, your children, your job, your prayer life, your church life. What is it what you need to give totally to him today? May this be our prayer...”All to Jesus I surrender, All to him I freely give.”
“She has done a beautiful thing to me.” It was a personal act, a loving act, an extravagant act and a total act which elicited the Savior’s praise. Now the beautiful thing you and I can do is different as we are different. I know not your heart, and you don’t know mine. Each of us has unique things which we may offer in devotion to Christ. And I would not venture to tell you what you must do. In your heart of hearts you already know. So suffice it say “Let us then act upon it.” In these last weeks before the end of Lent, as we prepare to remember his death again, may the deed of Mary be one we do well to imitate. Amen.
