“…Mary took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed Jesus’s feet and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.”
John 12:1-5
If there were ever a time to count the cost of loving someone, Mary of Bethany didn’t seem to stop to consider that in this beautiful account in John’s Gospel. Mary neither considered the financial cost nor the cost of criticism.
As the story plays out, we see Judas, the guilty and unrepentant one, calling her out in front of everyone. But Mary’s love for Jesus kept her from being drawn into a scene of drama and self-defense. Because she paid attention, she knew that Jesus’ death was imminent. Even the disciples seemed to miss what Jesus was clearly telling them Mark 8:30-33. Mary knew. Her devotion to the One who loved her dictated her actions.
Mary’s example of selfless love is one that we should all follow, as children of God.
These days, selfishness instead of sacrificial love is very common. Believers who are devoted to their walk with God know that love is not how much better someone can love me. Rather, it’s how much better I can love others.
Love is not how much better someone can love me. Rather, it’s how much better I can love others.
Loving people like Jesus does, is not always easy. But when we find our contentment is based on Jesus and not how others can make us happy, then we have found our fulfillment.
Joy is an elderly Christian lady who has had a long and loving relationship with God. She had a deep sorrow in her life though; even in her advanced years, that sorrow still hurts. Joy felt that her mom was not loving toward her, and that sorrow greatly disaffected her for many years. Many memories still sting. No matter what, Joy was determined to be a good daughter. As the years passed, she married and had a family of her own. She still looked out for her widowed mom. The years continued to speed by and the interactions between Joy and her mom were very hard to take. Eventually, Joy’s mom was put in a nursing home because she was developing dementia. It was unsafe for her to live alone, but Joy could not financially provide for her care. Still, Joy was very attentive. She grieved when she saw the toll the disease was taking on her mom. It made her sad to see her mom frightened and disoriented as she often was. Joy defended her and protected her when nursing home staff and fellow residents stole from her. Joy was a daily presence on behalf of her mother who had a great need to be loved and cared for. Joy fed her, cleaned her and even painted her fingernails and kept her hair styled. This daily sacrifice lasted for many years.
Sadly, when her mom passed away, Joy realized that she would never hear what she always wished to hear, “I love you.” The cost to Joy was very real. But the reminder of Jesus’ love for her helped Joy give herself away in spite of what she never got from her mom.
“Even if your mother and father desert you, I will always love you.”
The more Joy gave, the more she saw the immensity of God’s love for her. His love soothed her sorrow and made her more aware of the many hurting people living and working in her little part of the world. Joy also, has an intimate reminder of the costly love that Jesus gave for a world that easily turns Him away.
Psalm 27:10 “When my father and my mother forsake me, then Yahweh will take me up.”
The knowledge of God’s love for us is magnified in our lives when we pour ourselves out for others.
John Newton, the composer of Amazing Grace, wrote another hymn that we rarely hear any more. Every believer can benefit from its truth when we face the difficulties of sacrificial love.
“How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds”
John Newton Ca. 1739
Resources:
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 