There are two, perhaps three key points that could be her legacy, and as I've been studying Mary's life this week, I haven't been able to make up my mind as to which rises above the others! Therefore, I'm hoping you'll be able to settle this for me.
The story of Mary of Bethany’s extravagant act of anointing Jesus for burial found in three of the Gospels, Matthew 26:1-13, Mark 14:1-8 and John 12:1-8 has most likely been her single greatest, and most memorable act.
BUT it was Judas' question or protest that struck me the most. “Why this waste?”
When
Judas saw Mary’s worshipful act, his first thought was to criticize, “Why are
you being so wasteful? You could have helped the poor with this small fortune!” And Judas was not alone in his criticism of her!
I had to wonder if I would have dared to be so bold, but
Mary stepped out in faith. Her act of extravagant love was selfless,
and risked both embarrassment and the jeers of harsh criticism.
But it was her love that compelled her, and
Mary’s
loving act of anointing Jesus with the most expensive item she owned is one incident found in the Bible where a woman got it right while the men were left scratching their heads!
I believe we all have much we can learn from Mary:
1.) Mary of Bethany was absolutely devoted to Jesus and His teaching.
I found it interesting that Luke referenced Mary's act when he tells the story about her and her sister in Luke 10:38–42, "This Mary … was the same one who later poured perfume on the Lord and wiped His feet with her hair."
"Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (emphasis mine)
Mary, actions convey that what she wanted most of all was to follow the Lord Jesus in
such a way as to be able to hear his teachings. And Jesus lets everyone know that Mary chose "the good part, or portion"
I had to ask myself, am I as wholly devoted to Jesus as Mary was? Do I treasure His word as much as she did? And if so, is that fact evident to others around me?
2.) Mary of Bethany was willing to pay an extravagant cost to convey her love for Jesus.
John tells us in John 12:3 - "Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and
anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was
filled with the fragrance of the perfume."
Mark records it in Mark 14:1-8, but let's begin in Mark 14:3, "While
He was in
This particular vial which Mary had was
made of a costly material called "alabaster", filled with an even
costlier perfume from the orient (most likely India) called "nard".
To release this perfume inside the vial, she would have had to "snap" the slender neck of the alabaster vessel and pour out its contents; Once broken open, it couldn't have been saved for later; thus all of the contents was poured out onto Jesus. What Mary did cost the equivalency of a year's wages, probably something she was saving for her dowry, and I believe in this one act Mary was dramatizing her life's desire to pour out her love for Jesus, no matter the cost.
I again had to wonder, would I do the same? Have I? Have I given my very best to Jesus? My all to Jesus? Has my devotion been costly?
3.) Mary of