Tidings for Tuesday
When Jesus understood it, He said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? For she hath wrought a good work upon me. Matthew 26:10
Not many months earlier, Martha complained to the Lord Jesus about Mary failing to do her share of the household chores when visitors came. Wanting to provide the best of hospitality for her most special Guest, Martha had failed to understand how significant a position Mary had taken. By sitting at Jesus feet, Mary had taken the position of a disciple, something that was rarely accorded to a woman in that day. The account of Mary’s annointing the Lord Jesus with the expensive ointment shows that Mary had learned far more than most others who had sat at His feet. She was the only one who had grasped the truth that the Lord Jesus was going to die. The ointment was in preparation for His burial. For her devotion and her discernment, the Lord Jesus commends her good work.
Mary was criticized for what others saw as waste. The great value of the ointment had the do-gooders crying foul over the loss of support for their social programs. It also had crooks like Judas upset about the loss of lining for his pocket. But Mary saw a program that was greater than social or business issues. And she had no reservations about the ointment. Her act of devotion had significant impact, both in the short term, and in the centuries since. The odour of the ointment would have been obvious to the soldiers who seized the Lord Jesus in Gethsemane, to the Jewish leaders and to the Roman soldiers who insulted and assaulted the Lord Jesus at Gabbatha, and to the other crucified thieves and to the cruel spectators at Golgotha. No other crucifixion victim was ever enveloped with such a wonderful aroma. And ever since that time, the annointing of the Lord Jesus has stood as a monument to Mary’s devotion and her discernment.
Mary is commended because she wrought a good work upon the Lord Jesus. But Mary is not alone in her eligibility for such a commendation. Today, we do not have the option of pouring precious ointment on the Lord Jesus to prepare for His burial. But are Christians any less devoted to the Lord Jesus today than Mary was? Are we any less willing to perform whatever work or pay whatever price to do Him the honour He deserves? Although we don’t have His person physically with us, we do have His Word to tell us about Himself and about His will for us. In our land of plenty, we often fail to realize how much of our effort and income is poured out on ourselves and how little is poured out for the Lord. Our lack of devotion is no doubt linked to our lack of discernment concerning Himself.
Like Mary, let us pour out our best for the Lord Jesus. His commendation will make our devotion worthwhile. -Jim MacIntosh