In this life we will never know how or when Mary came to possess the perfume or what its purpose was beyond being used for what it was. We throughout the Gospels that Mary was a worshiper. She sat at is feet listening, she washed his feet with her tears, and then she poured out the perfume and used her own hair to wipe them clean. As in this passage, she was consistently doing things to honor Jesus without concern for what anyone else thought. She recognized Jesus, was the Christ, the Messiah, and it is as if when He was near pouring life out as a sacrifice was her sole mission.
Similarly, David prayed,
“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” Psalms 141:2
He offered his prayer and worship as a sacrifice unto the heavenly alter.
In Hebrews, Paul speaks of Worship and sacrifice, not once but twice.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:15
My friends, my hope and prayer is that each of us can be more like Mary and David. Men and women who live their lives as broken and poured out sacrifices of worship to their Lord and King. In doing so, our only concern is bringing glory and honor to His name and making it known without care or concern for what anyone else thinks.
Will you pause right now before you move on with the rest of your day and spend a moment worshiping and honoring the one who gave His All so you could have His all?
[1] Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. [2] Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. [3] Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:1-3
[2] May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. Psalms 141:2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:15