Jesus made four recorded visits to the little city of Bethany: As a Gracious Teacher (Luke 10:.8-39); As a Sympathizing Friend (John 11); As the Suffering Saviour (John 12.1-11); and As the Ascending Lord (Luke 24.50-51).
The third visit is the one that I want to center on today. We find ourselves not in John 12 as I mentioned before, but in Mark 14.1-9. Jesus is in the house of Simon the Leper. There are others there too, most likely the apostles and other devout followers. Mary of Bethany (there are many Marys in the Gospels) came in with a very expensive ointment of spikenard. Spikenard grows in the Himalayan mountains and has to be shipped (caravanned) in to Jerusalem. It is expensive! She broke the alabaster box (also not cheap) and poured the ointment on Jesus’ head. The disciples thought this was a total waste. Judas (John 12) led the argument, and as the text says in John 12, he was a thief… shocker! His thought was shared though among the disciples, that this could have been sold and given to the poor. They murmured (grumbled and made noises) at her. But, Jesus did not agree. He flat out said— “Let her alone…” He reminds them that He isn’t going to be around much longer, and then lands a statement that still impresses me…
Mark 14.9— “Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her…”
This is the week prior to the Cross, and Jesus has been instructing His disciples about His impending death at Jerusalem. They didn’t grasp or accept what He was preparing them for. Mary heard the same statements, and decided to act on them. Through passion for Jesus, she went home and brought back her most prized possession. She did this to show Jesus she recognized what He was telling them and to show that she believed Him. Jesus was so pleased with her sacrifice of faith that He called it to everyone’s attention. Even Jesus agreed with this assessment when He said that she did it for His burial.
What exactly did she do?
First, She gave her very best for Jesus. 300 Pence is a whole years salary for a working men. She was saving this ointment for her own use, maybe her own burial, or perhaps for retirement. This was the most precious possession she had on Earth. Makes me think— Am I willing to anoint Jesus with my most precious possession? Your: Life, Home, Business, Job, Children, Youth? Or is it the common action of: What you have left? We must give of our best to the Master.
Secondly, She learned that the blessings often come when you give more than is required. Everyone wants to do the minimal today. We have loads of excuses why we are too busy, but never adjust our schedule to make more time. We have loads of excuses why we can’t give more, but never adjust our budget to give more. There is very little sacrifice anymore. The average person is happy or satisfied if he does just exactly what God expects of him; but that is not where the blessing area of life is. Growing up in this modern churchanity culture, my observation has been this: Every church has two people going to the same Church. One does just enough to keep the judgment of God off of him, the other goes beyond what is required of him. Mary is giving more than is required… she gave her best.
Third, She learned the value of an occasional all-out effort. She pulled all the stops and went all-out for Christ. She didn’t anoint Jesus every time she saw Him, just this time. Timing is essential, bringing me to my next point…
Forth, she realized that timing is all-important. When the situation deems the Holy Spirit to prompt you to act… act! She was criticized… you will be too. But who cares! Usually this is phariseeism in the ranks, or simply the critical insecurity of the rest of the flock who didn’t act and are now ashamed. She did what she did now, because later would have been too late. It was an act of love and faith. Interesting that in Mark 16.1 points out that other women went “…that they might come and anoint him”, but they were too late. Their intentions were good, but too late. Churches need to remember this valuable lesson— You can do a right thing at a wrong time and go down in defeat.
Mary believed what Jesus had told her (His departure) and acted promptly. The timing blessed others too. “…the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.” Everyone was blessed. If she had waited, no one would have received the over flowing blessing of being there. When we serve God it will bless others and encourage them to follow. Or in this case, just get them on your case. Who cares! Serve anyway. I have known wealthier people who put the church in their will. That’s a blessing, but why not share it when you’re in a building program or there is a large project that you could have given too? Missed opportunities abound today. Sometimes because of timidity, or fear of the statements of others, or indecision. In all those, and many more cases, it is really a lack of faith! She didn’t intend to bless the disciples, but she did. Are the actions of your life a sweet smell?
Fifth, She was faith-forward. Jesus said— “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” She did this as a memorial for Him, but He reversed it, and made it a memorial for her. She tried to bless Her Lord, and He just blessed her right back! God is awesome! The word “gospel” means: ‘good news’. The good news that He was going to die and take the sins of the world. The gospel also covers the burial (ointment needed) and the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15.3-4). She not only did it for His burial, as He said, but the timing also indicated that she believed in His resurrection. How? Well, she wasn’t going to be there for that was she?
Faith-Forward giving is where it’s at my dear friend. Follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit and do not doubt! Obey Him and watch Him bless you right back.
What can you give to Jesus that can be a sweet smell? My life (as a gift to Him); My love (can’t love without action); My prayers (costs time); My time (invest yourself); My money (God will pay you back with interest).
He is worthy of my very best. He deserves better than my left-overs.