At His feet

The salesman glances up as a young woman steps into his store. As he looks her up and down, she says, “I’d like to buy some perfume.”

Bringing down a cheap bottle from the shelf, he shows her the sale price.

“I want something nicer,” she states.

He reaches up for two more bottles, opening one so she can smell the strong scent.

“No, I want something more expensive.”

Now, the man starts to wonder about her, but her voice interrupts his thoughts. “Show me your most expensive perfume.”

After a pause, he leaves to return holding a small stone box. She immediately sees that it’s very valuable.

“It’s twenty thousand dollars. This perfume is fit only for a king,” he says proudly.

“I’ll take it.”

The story continues

Although we do not know how she came by it, we know that Mary Magdalene gave much to own an alabaster flask of spikenard perfume. Spikenard is a small plant that grows in the cold, rocky ground high in the eastern Himalayas. Its roots produce the most potent perfume, extracted through a time-consuming process that makes it rare and extremely expensive. Even today, spikenard costs around $100 for just about a teaspoon (5 milliliters), and the Bible tells us that Mary had a pound, or more than 320 grams. Scholars suggest its cost was equivalent to a year’s wages.

So, what compelled her to spend such an extravagant amount of money on such a perfume?

We meet Mary several times in the New Testament, learning that Jesus healed her of seven demons and that she and other women provided for Him (Luke 8:2). Later, we meet Mary again as she sits at Jesus’ feet while Martha prepares food, frustrated that Mary is not helping her (Luke 10:38–42). And now we encounter her just six days before the Passover, in Bethany, at Simon the Pharisee’s house. Jesus is present with His disciples; other Jewish leaders; Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead; and his sister Martha (John 12:2).

Mary, who was also the sister of Lazarus and Martha (John 11), probably had not been invited to the party, but she came anyway. As the men reclined and listened to Jesus, I imagine Mary, standing close by, waiting for just the right moment. Maybe it comes as Jesus pauses, mid-sentence, and she breaks the stone flask. The scent immediately fills the room. Perhaps He stops talking as the oil spills over His head and feet. Then, He feels Mary’s tears of gratitude and her long hair on His bare feet.

Judas’s sharp words break the silence: “ ‘Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’ ” (John 12:5).¹ Simon, the host, also “spoke to himself, saying, ‘This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner’ ” (Luke 7:39). The murmurings of the other disciples also are not lost on Jesus as “they criticized her sharply” (Mark 14:5). Perhaps Mary also waits for Martha’s rebuke, wondering whether she should silently slip away.² At that moment, does anyone value her gift, other than Jesus? It seems not.

Suddenly, Jesus declares, “ ‘Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always’ ” (John 12:7, 8).

People used spikenard to anoint the dead, and Mary had heard Jesus speak about His imminent death. She wanted to give Him something to show how much she loved Him, for He had transformed her life. Other than the wise men’s gifts, here was the most extravagant display of honor shown to Jesus while He was alive on earth. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus brought costly spices to Jesus’ cold, dead body in the tomb. The women also had spices on Sunday morning, only to find that He had risen. But Mary’s gift was different because she gave it to Him while He was alive.

A great sacrifice and strong proof of her faith in Jesus, it expressed her love, gratitude, and devotion. Not only that, but little did she realize that her caring act would encourage Him as He faced the lonely, bitter journey to the cross. “As He went down into the darkness of His great trial, He carried with Him the memory of that deed, an earnest of the love that would be His from His redeemed ones forever.”³ Mary’s act represents the heartfelt love that we will one day be able to express when we see Jesus face-to-face.

Although Mary’s actions seemed out of place and strange, she is the one who shows us true love, devotion, and honor for Jesus. Her act would echo down throughout time, as Jesus stated in Mark 14:9: “ ‘Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.’ ” The very fact that we are reflecting on this now is fulfillment of His prophecy. It also tells us that as we preach the gospel, we should take notice of the kind of love that Mary had for Jesus.

“It was Mary who sat at His feet and learned of Him. It was Mary who poured upon His head the precious anointing oil and bathed His feet with her tears. Mary stood beside the cross and followed Him to the sepulchre. Mary arrived first at the tomb after His resurrection. It was Mary who first proclaimed a risen Savior.”⁴ Mary expressed her love for her Savior at each of those moments because she knew Jesus personally, and nothing could hold back her adoration for her Lord.

Do I love Jesus like this?

As I studied this story, an overwhelming thought struck me: I want to love Jesus as Mary did! I want to give Him something extravagant to show that He means everything to me! But what could I possibly give to Him? Then, I understood. The greatest gift I can ever offer Jesus is my love and my life in service to Him. He gave His life for me, and I can give mine for Him.

As a leader in ministry, perhaps you might reflect on whether the gift of your life, your love, and your service to God is as fresh as it once was.

It is easy to assume that we love Jesus, but at times we tend to get so busy in the things we do that everything can become routine. Our past commitment or love can grow dim even as we serve Him. There is no better time than today to kneel at His feet in adoration once again!

How much are you willing to sacrifice? How deep is your relationship with God? How much time do you spend in prayer and study, in service, in visiting? How many Bible studies do you have going on right now? Are you praying for and visiting your neighbors? Are you training your church for service and mission?

Behold Him

To adore Jesus, we must behold Him. We might know the truth and have led others to God, yet perhaps it’s been a while since we took time for ourselves to really behold Him. We cannot physically sit by Jesus’ feet nor see His face, so the best way to behold Him is by meeting Him in His living Word, the Bible, as we ask for the Holy Spirit to help us to abide in Jesus. “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weakness. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26). We can behold Jesus today, and every day, if we make time for Him.

Adore Him

When we behold Jesus and know of His love and forgiveness in our lives, adoration is our natural response. Here are some ways we can express our adoration to Him:

1. Come close. Jesus came close to Mary when He healed her of the seven demons, transforming her life forever. As a spiritual leader in your community, your life has been changed by Jesus, but are you close to Him right now? It is very easy to be like Simon—inviting Jesus to an event while forgetting to honor Him or show our deep love for Him. Your ministry will have so much more impact when you “come” to Jesus’ feet before you “go” to reach others. “ ‘He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing’ ” (John 15:5).
2. Stay close. Notice that Mary remained close to Jesus regardless of what others said about her. Is there someone who is making your ministry difficult right now? Remember that as you stay close to Jesus, your burdens will be lighter, and God will guide your steps. Like Mary, you can be steadfast in your love for Jesus. “ ‘As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love’ ” (John 15:9).
3. Give to Jesus. Mary sacrificed so much to express her love for Jesus. As we work for Jesus, are we willing to give more for Him? Do we need to open our hands and stop holding on to something we have been keeping for ourselves, and give it all to Him?
4. Be faithful. Jesus is your first love. Whether you face hardship, persecution, or other difficulties in your role, do not lose heart and hide your faith or love for Jesus. Mary was the only one in that room who truly expressed her love for Jesus, and He defended her. He will also defend you as you face challenges. Pray that one day you will hear the words, “ ‘ “Well done, My good and faithful servant. . . . Enter into the joy of your lord” ’ ” (Matt. 25:21). Be faithful, for He is always faithful to you.

One day very soon, we will see a small cloud in the eastern sky, and we will know that it’s Him—our Savior, Jesus—the very One whom we have lived for, loved, and honored. Can you picture that moment? It’s simply too wonderful to imagine, but it’s certain and true!

“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17). Come now and adore Him. Let’s also call others to come because, surely, He is coming quickly.