Title: The Smell of Perfume Filled the House
Contents
In the Bible, we think it was a waste of money, but on the contrary, there are cases where Jesus praises us. A typical example is the case of Mary in today's text.
About 5 li from Jerusalem is a village called Bethany. A feast was held here for Jesus. Simon was grateful for the grace of Jesus and had a great feast with Jesus in his house. According to the text we read today, Martha worked there. There was also Mary and Lazarus. Perhaps Martha was very busy thinking about how she could serve Jesus with good food on this day as well. But Maria was different. Of all the things he had, he brought the alabaster jar that he loved the most. It contained very expensive perfumed oil. This nard perfume is qualitatively different from the olive oil produced in Israel. Nad perfume oil was a very precious perfume imported from Arabia or India.
As recorded in Mark 14:3, Mary shattered the alabaster without regret. Then it was poured on Jesus' head. I was not satisfied with that. After pouring it on Jesus' feet, he washed the feet of Jesus by loosening the hair that was like a woman's life. As a result, the smell of perfumed oil flowing from the alabaster jar filled the whole house.
Seeing this, Judas Iscariot, who was in charge of the money box, began to complain. In Judas Iscariot's mind, Mary's actions may have been viewed as wasteful. They complained that it would be far better to sell it for three hundred denarii and help the poor.
But Jesus was different. You have seen Maria's supreme devotion. Jesus read the inner heart of Mary. So Jesus said, “Leave me alone. I am now preparing in advance for the day of my burial. The poor are always with you, but I am not always with you.” Mark 14:9 commended Mary greatly. “I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in remembrance of her.”
Like Mary of Bethany in the old days, we should give heartfelt thanks with the heart of breaking our precious alabaster jar for Jesus.
1. The beautiful fragrance of Mary Bethany started from a grateful heart.
There are three kinds of people in the world. ① There are people who complain and grumble even after receiving grace. ② There are people who receive grace, but take it for granted. ③ There are people who do not forget to give thanks when they receive grace. Just like Mary Bethany.
2. Mary's gratitude was the best.
Mary's thanks gave her the best she could. Mary received many favors from the Lord. Not only that, but Mary also received a lot of grace from her family. His brother Lazarus had been dead for four days, but Jesus raised him up. So, how much gratitude must have overflowed in Mary's heart? Mary did not stop giving thanks from her heart, but gave Jesus the most precious thing she had. Jesus saw it and was pleased with it. He was pleased with Mary's sincerity. When Jesus saw a poor widow offering two coins, he praised it. In the same way, God is pleased when we give our best thanks with utmost sincerity.
3. Mary Bethany's thanksgiving was the one that broke the alabaster box without mercy.
It was an appreciation with determination. Because he had such a decision to break the alabaster without any regrets with the heart to use the precious perfume he had for Jesus only, all the disciples ran away when Jesus was crucified, but Mary Bethany was watching Jesus from the bottom of the cross until the end. is. Even today, we must have the determination to lavishly break even the precious alabaster alabaster if it is for Jesus.
Everyone! What will we pass on to our descendants? We should instill in our little children the spirit of pioneering and gratitude that only those who sow with weeping can reap the harvest with joy.