(#751, Imperial 1962)
Read John 12:1-8.
There is more that can be gleaned from the wonderful story
of Mary and her sacrifice.
The method of worship and service: Sacrifice.
The ointment Mary used was very costly. Sacrifice is the test of real love. And Mary's willingness to give of something
very precious indicated that her motive was genuine.
Jesus is the supreme expression of this sacrifice, of
course. It was He who said and lived the
simple truth that true love consists of laying down one's life (John
15:13). Mary shows us that there is
nothing too precious for Jesus.
Contrast Mary's attitude, however, with that of
Judas. To Judas, sacrifice is equivalent
to waste. There is no love in his life,
and thus no sacrifice, and thus no worship and service.
The measure of worship and service: the Glory of Christ.
The objection raised by those around, notably Judas, was
that the ointment would have been used for a better purpose. It could have helped many poor people.
But note that Jesus praises her because He knows the measure
of worship and service. It is not
"To what purpose" but "for whose sake." She had done a good deed for Him (Mk.
14:6).
Again Jesus says, "She has done what she could"
(Mk. 14:8). When we think of worship and
service we are not compelled to do what others have done. We are compelled to do what God has given us
to do. Mary laid her best at Christ's
feet ... we can do that.
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