Unconditional Love and the Alabaster Jar

While focusing on Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection this week, I found myself being drawn to the life of Mary of Bethany. You know her as Lazarus and Martha’s sister. All three of them loved Jesus and desired to be with Him and serve Him. So much had transpired in those few weeks before the crucifixion: Lazarus had been raised from the dead, the plot to kill Jesus had thickened, and the Pharisees and High Priests were in hot pursuit of seizing the claimed “King of the Jews.”

In John 12 we find Jesus tired and in need of rest and a reprieve, so He heads to Bethany. Upon arriving, however, He does not go to Lazarus’ home but to Simon the Leper. Simon, Lazarus, Mary and Martha had experienced firsthand Jesus’ miracles in their own lives. They were devout believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. On this particular evening, supper had been prepared and served. Jesus and Lazarus were reclining at the table when Mary came and broke an alabaster flask of very costly oil and poured it over Jesus’ head and feet. Then she proceeded to wipe His feet with her hair. By doing this she was taking the place of a slave or servant. When she undid her hair (something a Jewish woman would not do in public), she was humbling herself and laying her glory at Jesus’ feet. (1 Cor. 11:15)
Each time we see Mary of Bethany in Scripture, we find her at Jesus’ feet. That humbling of herself was not only the acknowledging of who Jesus was, but the acknowledging of who she was – a sinner saved by His mercy and grace. She loved the Lord Jesus. She was hungry to hear Jesus’ words of life and to serve Him. Her devotion, love and humility towards her Savior showed her true heart. Mary’s intimacy with God was her highest priority, and, therefore, it determined the impact of her life.
Here she is some 2,000 years later impacting my life. She knew Jesus would soon be suffering and dying. She knew that soon she would no longer be able to see Him or speak to Him! She was showing her love for Jesus before His death, while He was still living.
Warren Wiersbe puts it this way: “Mary was giving the roses while He was yet alive, and not bringing them to the funeral! Her act of love was public, spontaneous, sacrificial, lavish, personal, and unembarrassed. Jesus called it ‘a good work’ (Matt. 26:10; Mark 14:6) and both commended her and defended her.”
Mary chooses the best: she chooses Jesus, she chooses to follow the greatest commandment “to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (Deut. 6:4-5)
Putting Jesus first is a choice. It means He is your top priority, the firstfruits of your day, your chief concern, the very focus of your life, YOUR FIRST LOVE! His agenda becomes your agenda, not your agenda becoming His.
The rest of the story is found in John 12:3 - “The fragrance of the oil filled the house!”
When I was in high school, a dear friend of our family would come to our home every Monday with her husband to have pie and visit. She wore the most beautiful smelling perfume! For hours after she had left, the fragrance of her perfume would permeate our home or the chair she sat in. That perfume became a favorite of mine. It was expensive, however, and my husband could only buy it every now and then. Receiving a bottle of it was special, cherished and used sparingly.
When Mary poured and lavished that perfume on Jesus, I believe she was telling Jesus, “You are the cherished Treasure of my life. Lord, may the sweet, sweet spirit of Who YOU are permeate who I am and all that I do.”
Prayer: “Lord, we want the sweet, sweet Holy Spirit to linger on our lives, leaving your joy, peace, and love so that we might lavish on others all you have given and done for us. THANK YOU, GRACIOUS, LOVING FATHER.”
I’d Rather Have Jesus
I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I'd rather be His than have riches untold
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.
Chorus: Than to be the king of a vast domain
or be held in sin’s dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.
I'd rather have Jesus than vain applause
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame
I'd rather be true to His holy name.
Chorus: Than to be the king of a vast domain
or be held in sin’s dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.
He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.
Chorus: Than to be the king of a vast domain
or be held in sin’s dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.
(Rhea F. Miller and George Everly Shea)
References: Matt. 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8