Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
He's Worth It All
Today’s Verse:
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. ~John 12:3
Husbands and wives who love each other will seek to lavish each other with gifts that demonstrate their affection and love. The desire is to lovingly show that the one they love is worth everything spent to purchase the gift. This morning’s devotion challenges us on how much Jesus is worth to us. How much will you give, how far will you go, and how much will you do to show Him that you love Him?
We see the event.
There was a dinner at the house of Simon the leper. Jesus was the main Guest of honor. Lazarus, who had just been raised from the dead, was also there with his two sisters. The house was filled with people. The raising of Lazarus from the dead was somewhat of a novelty to the attendees. The majority of the people came to the supper to receive, hear, and be fed. The people that attended remind me of Christians today who come expecting to receive and be fed. We must be careful that we do not become more interested in an event than in the fact that Jesus is watching to see how aware we are that He is with us.
We see the expense.
Mary did something that caught everyone’s attention and was the highlight of the dinner. She took an alabaster box filled with expensive spikenard, broke the stem off, and proceeded to pour the ointment on Jesus' head and feet. This ointment was very expensive. It was equivalent to a year’s wages. It was normally used to anoint the body of a deceased loved one prior to burial. Everyone knew that Mary did something that was costly. The feelings of the attendees were either of indignation or indifference. Mary was the only one in that room who decided that Jesus needed to be acknowledged as God. She poured out the most expensive commodity that she had and was telling everyone publicly that she was sparing no expense in her love for Jesus.
We see the expression.
Mary demonstrated incredible passion and love for Jesus. First, she broke the box and poured out the ointment. Her action expressed a life that was humble and willing to be poured out for His glory. Second, there was something else that she did that was very lavish. She poured the ointment on His feet and wiped His feet with her hair. The glory of a woman is her hair. It’s one thing to talk about loving Jesus: it’s significant in how we express our love for Jesus. Mary’s actions expressed that Jesus is worth it all! There is nothing we can give, including our life, that He is not worthy of. She publicly expressed that Jesus is worth her worship, her service, her sacrifice, and her surrender. Jesus acknowledged Mary by telling the others, “She hath done what she could.” When was the last time you expressed to the Lord your love for Him?
We see the effect.
The odor of the ointment filled the house. Great sacrifices and expressions of love touch the lives of others. It changes an atmosphere. It leaves a sweet-smelling after effect. It leaves a memorable impact. It spoke of her faith in Christ. She had faith in His coming death, burial, and resurrection. She gave a witness to others that she was not ashamed of identifying with Jesus. To everyone at the dinner, especially Jesus, Mary testified in her love that Jesus was worth it all. Jesus is worth our best and our all. Is there something you can do to express to Jesus and others that He is worth everything to you?
Have an impassioned God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Deuteronomy 30-31
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