Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3-4
Jesus was invited to a dinner in his honor at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. We know Martha was busy making a special dinner, but we see Mary welcoming Jesus by washing his feet, not with soap and water, but with a pound of Nard a very expensive perfume or essential oil made from spikenard. Considering how much spikenard cost, this was an enormous amount for Mary to use to anoint Jesus’ feet. In fact, Judas Iscariot indignantly asked Jesus, “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?” (spoiler alert: Judas didn’t care about the poor). The Greek word for a “pence” is denarius. In that day, a Roman denarius was one day’s salary. So when Judas announced that the spikenard could have been sold for three hundred pence, he was saying that Mary’s perfume was worth three hundred days of salary. That is why I say it was an extremely expensive gift! It was worth almost an entire year’s income!
You see, no other feet in the entire world were more beautiful to Mary than the feet of Jesus. Jesus had changed her life. Jesus brought her brother back from the dead Jesus brought new meaning into her family. To Mary, every step Jesus took was precious, honored, and greatly valued. In the days of the New Testament, a woman’s hair represented her glory and honor. So not only did she annoint his feet with very expensive perfumed oil, but she also dried his feet with her own glory–her beautiful hair. She surrendered two things of value to her–she surrendered her glory for his.
Remember, Jesus taught, “…Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:34). Mary’s actions revealed her heart as she poured her most valuable treasure onto the feet of Jesus and then used her hair to dry them. She deeply loved Jesus, and she showed it with the gift that she brought to Him. She honored him extravagantly! 1 Peter 5:4 tells us that when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. So, while we are called to bring him glory and honor and praise, we are also promised a crown of glory when Jesus returns that will never tarnish or fade away. Wow! What a promise to look forward to besides the majesty of his triumphant return. In this day when the news is mostly sad or bad, the hope that we have in Jesus can fill our hearts with gratitude and joyful praise. Reflect on these … How is your heart feeling today? Where is your treasure?
Blessings to you,
Deb Hill