Just a few days before Jesus would die on the cross for the sins of the world, there is an account of a woman who took an opportunity to worship Him. Her display was remarkable and loving and remembered throughout all time.

John 12:1-8 is the passage. We find Lazarus hosting a dinner for Jesus. His sisters are present. Martha is serving. Mary is near Jesus.

Verse 1 tells us it was six days before the Passover Feast. Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived. Lazarus was the one 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. 4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

As onlookers to this beautiful story, we admire Mary because of her outward evidence of inward devotion toward Jesus. She gave all she had to worship Jesus and show her love to Him. To Mary, Jesus was the only one in the room. She was compelled to worship Him in this precious and costly way.

Judas, the thief who would later betray Jesus, was in the room and opposed this act of love. Judas’ weakness was he cared only for himself. And he was guilty and trying to hide it. When he tried to deceitfully point out Mary’s love toward Jesus as being misguided, he unwittingly exposed the selfishness and darkness in his character.

Judas tried to garner favor for his position by pulling in the poor as his cover. He not only revealed his true colors but tried to deceive those around him into thinking he was concerned for the poor. Jesus, of course, was the One present, most concerned for the poor. The fact that Judas tried this tactic with Jesus present exposes even more of his unfavorable and repulsive character.

On the other hand, Mary is generous in her expression of love. To be clear, it was a display. Unabashed, Mary seems oblivious to the dark persona sitting near her in Judas and still displays a lavish love for Jesus using a luxurious product. She is one to admire and esteem. Jesus welcomed Mary’s love and worship while penetrating the darkness of Judas with a direct command to leave Mary alone.

Jesus was willing to fellowship with friends and foes alike. He was ready to defend the pure in heart, available to receive an extravagant expression of love, and used the sacrifice to teach a lesson. In only a few words, He exposes the motives and forces of evil sitting near Him in Judas. He uses Mary’s display of worship to uncover the truth.

The people in Jesus’ day didn’t understand they would soon lose Him to a brutal and sacrificial death on their behalf. Even in this passage, Jesus tells those present that He will not always be with them. They could not grasp that He would soon be gone.

What qualities do we see in Mary of Bethany? A brave lady, Mary used an opportunity to worship Jesus in the face of evil. She understood Jesus was going to die. She cared for Him. Her act of worship pointed to His forthcoming death. Mary was devoted. She wanted to be with Jesus. She followed Him, and she worshiped Him. She hung on to His every word. Mary had a pure heart. Mary of Bethany wasn’t in a hurry. Because her heart was ready, she experienced the presence and love of Jesus and expressed her gratitude.

And how does Jesus respond to Mary of Bethany? He receives her lavish love and worship. We cheer when Jesus stands up to Judas’ evil remarks to defend Mary’s pure love. Jesus uses her example to show that a heart of worship and a heart of evil are choices. Her story is told through the ages which shows me God’s heart for her.

Inspiring us with a worthy example, Mary of Bethany is a story for today. Her close friendship and proximity with Jesus made it possible for her to sit at His feet. But the application reaches through history to this moment for you and me.
Those in relationship with God through Jesus His Son have the same opportunity to fellowship with Jesus today. His Spirit lives within us; we can talk to Him and read His word anytime. Jesus’ death provided access to God by His shed blood and torn body on the cross. Possessing such an inexpressible gift gives us every reason to sit with Jesus daily and worship Him.
Mary of Bethany did not know her encounter with Jesus would be historical and included in the biblical narrative. An example she is of devotion to Jesus. Fearless, brave, and unintimidated by darkness, Mary of Bethany shows me that devotion to Jesus is a natural response from His followers.

©Valerie Rumfelt

Originally published April 6, 2023

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