Scripture:
[10] Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. [11] The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.[12] When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
Observation:
At least a couple disciples had entirely the wrong focus here. That Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus’s feet when she could have sold it and given the money to the poor. She was being irresponsible and not caring for the least of them.
Mary did not “waste” anything. She “gave” everything to show her love for Jesus and serve Him as best she could.
Jesus patiently tells the disciples again that he is going away soon. Mary was helping prepare Him for burial. It was far more important to understand that He was going away soon. He reminded them several times of this fact.
Also, kind of like.. pay attention.. she was giving to Jesus the best of what she had to offer – her expensive perfume and her service. She was doing this not because she had to, or was asked to do so, but because she loved Him. Jesus calls it a beautiful thing.
Application:
As I give to expand Jesus’s Kingdom, and serve Him, I would like to think that He would tell me that what I do is a “beautiful thing”. Nothing I could ever hear would compare with the joy from hearing that from Jesus until, hopefully I hear “well done good and faithful servant” when my new life begins. We are called to build His Kingdom. Serve as if we are serving Jesus Himself, and live to glorify Him – all from the heart.
Prayer:
Lord I love you. I anxiously await your return when I can see you face to face. Meanwhile, help me stay focused and pay attention to what I can do to glorify you. In Jesus holy name I pray, amen.