I have spent way too much time considering what other people think about me. From the way I dress, to the way I talk, I've obsessed over too many details of me. Why? Because I've concerned myself with what others think.
Earlier this week, I talked about a guy named Simon the Leper who didn't seem too concerned with his identity. His name is only mentioned in passing, because it will be a woman who steals the scene, although it's not really about her either. Mark 14 tells us of a woman who comes in and anoints Jesus' feet with an expensive perfume. From the gospel of John, we know that it's Mary, the sister of Martha.
Forget what you know about the argument the disciples have with Jesus about this being a wise or foolish use of money and resources. Forget that this seemed to spur Judas into betraying Jesus. You can even forget about the imagery of this being preparation for Jesus' burial, although it is a beautiful picture.
What strikes me is the bravery Mary had when walking into this room. This wasn't just giving Jesus a bottle of perfume, an odd gift to give any man, unless this was a musk. The Gospel writers always leave out the gritty details like that.
Mary not only turns her back on the crowd, but she puts herself in a most vulnerable position, so she can wipe the feet of Jesus with her hair. There's no suave way of doing that. In fact, there's no way of keeping your face off the floor when giving this gift.
And while what she did has been told and retold for generations, this is ultimately about Jesus. It is preparation for His burial. So it didn't matter that others thought it was a waste. It didn't matter that others might have felt awkward as she was wiping His feet. It wasn't about what others thought.
The gift we give Jesus is about Him. It is our response. It's not what others think.
When's the last time you lavishly gave to Jesus without considering what others thought about you?
Earlier this week, I talked about a guy named Simon the Leper who didn't seem too concerned with his identity. His name is only mentioned in passing, because it will be a woman who steals the scene, although it's not really about her either. Mark 14 tells us of a woman who comes in and anoints Jesus' feet with an expensive perfume. From the gospel of John, we know that it's Mary, the sister of Martha.
Forget what you know about the argument the disciples have with Jesus about this being a wise or foolish use of money and resources. Forget that this seemed to spur Judas into betraying Jesus. You can even forget about the imagery of this being preparation for Jesus' burial, although it is a beautiful picture.
What strikes me is the bravery Mary had when walking into this room. This wasn't just giving Jesus a bottle of perfume, an odd gift to give any man, unless this was a musk. The Gospel writers always leave out the gritty details like that.
Mary not only turns her back on the crowd, but she puts herself in a most vulnerable position, so she can wipe the feet of Jesus with her hair. There's no suave way of doing that. In fact, there's no way of keeping your face off the floor when giving this gift.
And while what she did has been told and retold for generations, this is ultimately about Jesus. It is preparation for His burial. So it didn't matter that others thought it was a waste. It didn't matter that others might have felt awkward as she was wiping His feet. It wasn't about what others thought.
The gift we give Jesus is about Him. It is our response. It's not what others think.
When's the last time you lavishly gave to Jesus without considering what others thought about you?
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