Mark 14:3. “And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious, and she brake the box and poured it on His head.”
Mary’s love was selfless and costly. Because of the hot and dry climate, it was the custom of the day to anoint the head with oil, especially the heads of guests. But this was not Mary’s purpose.
Mary anointed Jesus herself. A servant would ordinarily do the anointing, and Simon, owning a house large enough to entertain so many guests, would certainly have had servants. Mary was not a servant, she was one of the heads of the household. Mary was not just anointing to fulfill a custom of the day. Her purpose was much greater than that.
Notice what Mary did, she took the most precious thing she had and gave it to Jesus in the most significant way, in as act of anointing. Note, how Mary gave the gift to Jesus. She did not just hand it to Him, She broke the neck of the flask and poured the whole bottle on His head and feet. Why? What was Mary doing?
Mary’s anointing of Jesus was a selfless act, a costly act, and act of sacrificial love and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Very simply put, Mary anointed Jesus to show Him how deeply she loved Him and believed Him to be the true Messiah, the Anointed One of God. He was her savior, Lord, and King. He had done so much for her and her family. She wanted Him to know how much she appreciated, loved, and believed Him. Being a young woman in the presence of so many men, she was not allowed to vocally express herself that much. Such privilege was not allowed women of that day, so she did all that she could, she acted. She arose and went for the most precious gift she could think of-a most costly bottle of perfume. And she gave it to Him in such a way that He would now that at least one person truly loved Him and believed Him to be the Messiah. Her hope was that such worship and such faith and love would boost His spirits.
It is important as believers and members of the body of Christ to realize that, true Love is selfless and costly. True sacrificial love forgets self and pays whatever price is necessary to demonstrate one’s love. Sacrificial love gives its most precious possession. Give your best to Jesus – He’s worth it!
Much Love,
Because He Is – I Am
Presider
