John 12:3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
It's clear throughout the gospel stories that Mary loves Jesus. She sits at his feet, she hangs on every word he speaks. But she shows us in one particular account, just what she thinks of the Son of Man.
When our Lord was visiting Bethany, which happened to be where Mary lived, He dined in the home that she shared with Martha and Lazarus. The disciples were also welcomed into their home for this dinner held in Jesus' honor.
During this evening, Mary took out a pint of nard, an expensive perfume we're told in the scriptures, and poured out the bottle's contents on Jesus' feet. She wiped His feet with her hair. This can be looked at in separate parts to see the significance of Mary's sacrifice.
First, consider the fact that Mary had to make the decision to use the entire bottle of perfume if she was going to use any of it. Once this jar was opened (broken) it was all to be used. This is a significant decision in light of what we learn from Judas' statement after her act: "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?" It was worth a year's wages." We're never told what the income level of Mary's household is, but one can guess that it was not so high as to just go about breaking open jars of expensive perfumes without considering the cost and whether it was worth it.
But possibly even more of a sacrificial act was the washing of Jesus' feet with her hair. It was an act of humility to wash the disciples' feet when Jesus did so. The very lesson He was teaching this group of men was that to be first must consider yourself last. He lowered Himself to show that even He, God in human form, was here to serve and not to be served. To the disciples, it was a bit of a shock. How much more so when they saw Mary not only wash the Savior's feet, but do so with the hair of her head? This was indeed an act of submission. This was a sure sign that Mary understood exactly who Jesus is and how we all compare (or don't really) to Him.
Can we lower ourselves, as Mary did, in submission to our Lord? Can we place Him higher than ourselves and seek His will over ours? Can we count the cost and still go forward with the sacrifice required to follow Him? These questions must be answered by each Christian.
When our Lord was visiting Bethany, which happened to be where Mary lived, He dined in the home that she shared with Martha and Lazarus. The disciples were also welcomed into their home for this dinner held in Jesus' honor.
During this evening, Mary took out a pint of nard, an expensive perfume we're told in the scriptures, and poured out the bottle's contents on Jesus' feet. She wiped His feet with her hair. This can be looked at in separate parts to see the significance of Mary's sacrifice.
First, consider the fact that Mary had to make the decision to use the entire bottle of perfume if she was going to use any of it. Once this jar was opened (broken) it was all to be used. This is a significant decision in light of what we learn from Judas' statement after her act: "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?" It was worth a year's wages." We're never told what the income level of Mary's household is, but one can guess that it was not so high as to just go about breaking open jars of expensive perfumes without considering the cost and whether it was worth it.
But possibly even more of a sacrificial act was the washing of Jesus' feet with her hair. It was an act of humility to wash the disciples' feet when Jesus did so. The very lesson He was teaching this group of men was that to be first must consider yourself last. He lowered Himself to show that even He, God in human form, was here to serve and not to be served. To the disciples, it was a bit of a shock. How much more so when they saw Mary not only wash the Savior's feet, but do so with the hair of her head? This was indeed an act of submission. This was a sure sign that Mary understood exactly who Jesus is and how we all compare (or don't really) to Him.
Can we lower ourselves, as Mary did, in submission to our Lord? Can we place Him higher than ourselves and seek His will over ours? Can we count the cost and still go forward with the sacrifice required to follow Him? These questions must be answered by each Christian.
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