If you’ve read the Gospels, you’ve run in to the story of Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus’ feet several times (Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 12:2-8). It’s an arresting story. There’s several layers of significance to it–here’s one that worked me over the other morning as I sat with Mark’s account:
What set Mary apart? Unlike the others in that room (disciples included), she had actually listened to Jesus. (He had been saying that He was going to die soon!) She allowed the words He said to penetrate—to “sink down into her ears” (Luke 9:44)—and so she was aware of what was really going on, and what the moment called for from disciples. Her love to Him, then, was not misguided or filled with false ideas and hopes. It was love for the real Jesus—the one who was about to die. So she loved Him in His impending death. She loved Him—who raised her brother but wouldn’t save Himself, and she thought that someone needed to acknowledge what was going on (!). And she must have realized that she—with her spikenard there in her room—she was able to do it.
And so she did—“she did what she could.”
Maybe it seemed small to her as she came. The disciples gave audible voice to what may have already been in her head—but she had heard His word! He was going to die—and soon!
Shouldn’t someone honor this Jesus?
So she seized her moment, received her commendation, and wove herself inextricably with the Gospel itself—she became woven into His story, and therefore received true, and everlasting, significance.
How will you be woven into His story?