Precious Perfume

Matthew 26

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be
preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman
hath done, be told for a memorial of her.   Matt. 26:13

LET IT GLOW

How I enjoy going to "Bath and Body" and testing their various perfumes.
It seems like a different world when I step through the door. Time stops.
Linda is lingering at her leasure. It's so relaxing. (We only have a shower,
so I can't say like warm bubble bath on a cold winter day.)

Here we have Jesus and His disciples at the home of a former leper, in
the city of Bethany. That's where Jesus' good friends  Mary, Martha, and
Lazarus lived. So they were probably there, too. It was probably Mary
who was the woman that poured the precious ointment from her
alabaster box on Jesus' head. This may have been the last visit this family
had with the Savior before His crucifixiion. Mary had spent many hours
sitting at Jesus' feet listening, learning, loving. She believed Him when
Jesus told about how He must die and rise again on the third day. More
details are found in John 12:1-8 if you want to read it.

Joanna Weaver, in her book, "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World"
says this:

But what did Mary have? With no father to arrange her marriage, time
was ticking away. The alabaster jar of perfume may have been a part, if
not all of Mary's dowry. Worth more than three hundred denarii, nearly
a year's wages, this was no ordinary perfume. Though unromantic by
name, nard  was rare, made from the aromatic oil extracted from the root
of a plant grown mainly in India. It had to be imported. Mary couldn't get
it over the counter at Wal-Mart. I'm not sure she would have found it at
Saks Fifth Avenue. In fact, there is no perfume I know of today that can
even compare in worth-approximately thirty thousand dollars a bottle.
What mattered most-what matters still today-is the treasure the container
holds. And the treasure Mary poured out that day was more than an
expensive perfume. She was pouring out her very life in love and sacrificial
service.

What did Mary do? Mary showed extravagant love. She gave her all.
She showed her highest respect for Jesus as she believed He was God's
Annointed One. Take a deep breath. Can you smell it in the air?

Then the criticism start-Why not just a few drops? Why break the jar?
Why the hair? Tell her to stop sobbing. It could have been sold and the
money given to the poor. Is this why Mary was crying? The onlookers
misinterrupreted her actions. But Jesus saw her heart. He defended
her actions.

In verse 11-12, Jesus says," For ye have the poor always with
you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment
on my body, she did it for my burial."

Sweet Mary knew her Savior was going to die and she wanted to do
one last thing for Him. What will be my last action or words on this
earth? Will they be remembered as sacrificial?

(By the way, alabaster is a marble-like mineral that is white. How
 beautiful and expensive the container must have been.)

LET IT GROW

Peter experienced so much while walking with Jesus. He:

• carried a basket of excess fish and bread, maybe 3 times
• saw what happened on the Mount of Transfiguratioin
• had a mother in law that was healed
• caught a fish with a coin in its mouth so he could pay taxes
• walked on water with Jesus
• experienced the miracles Jesus did
• sliced off a soldier's ear and saw Jesus put it back on

After experiencing all of those things, Peter followed him afar off
according to verse 58. Even after seeing and hearing Jesus for 3 1/2
years, Peter denied knowing Jesus. Then he wept bitterly. He realized
what he had done.
How many times do I deny knowing Jesus? Maybe not saying it in
words, but my thoughts and actions? Maybe I don't stand up for Jesus
like I should. Guilty. Do I follow Him at a distance?
I wonder, if Peter cringed whenever he heard a rooster crow the rest of his
life?

LET IT GO

Stay near Jesus.
Pour out  extravagant praise on Jesus.
Pour out extravagant love on people.
Don't deny Jesus.