John 12 1-8 v 3 “Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair.”
Six days before the Passover celebration Jesus was again in the home of Lazarus, with his sisters Martha and Mary. Lazarus who Jesus had raised from the dead was fully alive and eating with Jesus. Martha was again serving, and Mary continued to love Jesus, showing it in a practical way. Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair.” We learn a little about Judas here too, a man on the surface dedicated to following Jesus as a disciple but continuing with old practices of being a thief, taking money where he could and not really caring about the poor. And Jesus again defended Mary as he said, “Leave her alone”, “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
I expect most of us have been to a meal with a mixture of friends and family. For me it has often been on a Sunday. Growing up Mum would cook a roast lunch, busy in the kitchen and my sister and I would help lay the table and transport food from the kitchen to the dining room and my dad visited with my grandparents and any other company that had been invited. Yes, there was work to be done but I remember the laughter around the table and the sharing of stories between the different generations so I can imagine the scene above in the home of Lazarus. Mary in all the hustle and bustle of a gathering chose to demonstrate her love for Jesus. And Jesus accepted this practical demonstration of her love.
When was the last time you practically demonstrated your love for God in a busy room with lots of people around?
CrossWalk 