February 20
“And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, ‘Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.’ And they criticized her sharply. But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial,’” Mark 14:3-9.
Jesus often visited Bethany, where His dear friends, Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus, lived. He often dined in their home. On the occasion referred to above, Jesus accepted an invitation to dine in the home of Simon the leper. However, Jesus’ dear friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, were present. While they were eating, a woman came with an alabaster flask filled with a very costly ointment. She broke the narrow neck of the flask and poured all the ointment on Jesus’ head, and also on his feet, as we learn from the Gospel of John, chapter 12.
From the Gospel of John, we also learn that this woman was Mary, Martha’s sister. Mary was criticized severely by some of the disciples, and by Judas Iscariot in particular. They said, “What a waste! The ointment could have been sold for a great price and the money could have given to the poor!” However, Judas did not care about the poor at all. He was the treasurer for the Twelve, and he dipped into the treasury bag and stole money for himself. Among other things, Judas was a thief. His greed explains why he bargained with the religious leaders to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
Jesus’ remark to all of them was, “Let her alone! Quit nagging her! She has done a good work for Me!” He reminded them that they would always have opportunities to help the poor, but He would not always be around. He told them that Mary had anointed Him for burial. She was preparing His body for His dying day. Mary was performing her deed out of love for her Lord.
You and I know what Jesus has done for us out of love. He came into this world to live the perfect life in our place. He took all our sins upon Himself and carried them to Calvary’s cross where He shed His holy precious blood to wash away our sins. From the cross comes the assurance of the great love of Jesus, and we are assured that we have been redeemed and delivered from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Behold, how greatly God has loved us!
Now, out of love for Him who first loved us, let us show our love by getting the Good News out to our families, our loved ones, our neighbors, and throughout the world at every opportunity that presents itself. To this end, we pray:
“Can we, whose souls are lighted
With wisdom from on high,
Can we, to men benighted,
The lamp of life deny?
Salvation! Oh, Salvation!
The joyful sound proclaim,
Till each remotest nation
Has learned Messiah’s name.” Amen.