Reading: John 12:1-8

Lesson: Broken and Spilled Out

The silence of the room was defeaning as she walked through – Her shame kept her eyes looking down towards her feet, but her broken heart kept propelling her forward. If she could block out the stares of her scoffers, she could make it across the room to her Saviour.

The disciples couldn’t understand the foolishness of Mary’s interruption; her willingness to spill out something of such value. Only Mary knew what Jesus had done for her – only Jesus understood the depth of her love for Him. Every love she’d ever known, had an end. But Jesus saw beneath her scars, to a resilience that knew no boundaries, and a love without conditions.

Scornful eyes, silently catalogued each of her sins, as she passed through the room carrying her alabaster box. A box used to preserve and protect the costliest of perfumes; the most precious of possessions. Hers was valued at a years’ worth of wages. It literally cost her all that she had, to tell her Saviour that she loved Him.

Mary possessed a humble understanding, that love is a verb. It requires action.

She knew, that very soon, He’d permanently wear her sin and shame – she’d never have to carry it again. Every chain would be broken, and she could hold her head high. He knew that the depth of her love would be painted on the canvas’ of famed artists, and be preserved in the pages of history.

She poured her costly perfume over His head, saturating His skin, then bathing His feet. Its market value was irrelevant to her; she would have poured herself out if she could have; because soon He’d pour himself out for all mankind. Jesus didn’t feel the oil being poured over Him, as much as He felt the outpour of her gratitude.

Mary knew He wasn’t telling a fable, when He warned His disciples that His time on earth had come to an end. It was the same voice that set her free from the demons that inhabited her; and the same voice that raised her brother Lazarus from the dead.

She knew that voice – She knew the stench of death – She also knew the fragrance of life.

I wonder if Mary thought, that the overwhelming scent of her pungent perfume, could give her beloved Saviour the strength to carry His cross up the hill of Calvary – that maybe her costly love would seep through His pores as He hung His head one last time, giving Him the courage to finally say, “It is finished”.

Maybe if she poured out every last drop, the aroma would even fill His tomb, long after he drew His final breath; leaving behind the fragrance of life – instead of death.

Mary’s love in action, cost her a years’ worth of wages – what must it be like to love Him that much?

Jesus love in action, cost Him His life – what must it be like to love us that much?

Application: Do You Love Him and Leave Him?

The truth is, we all have an alabaster box; a storehouse of our earthly valuables and treasures of the heart, that could be poured out as an expression of love to our Saviour. Many of those boxes are empty, because we’ve lavished the contents on ourselves, leaving barely a drop of gratitude for He who paid the ransom for our sins.

Love costs us all something. Anything worth having, usually requires a sacrifice.

You and I, like Mary, have experienced God’s amazing grace, through redemption. His sacrifice said that you were worth dying for. When He said ‘It is finished’, He made your life worth living.

How much is your love for Him worth to you – A few Sunday mornings in the back pew? A years’ worth of wages? All that you are?

Maybe He’s asked you to sacrifice something that’s holding you back, or that was never yours to begin with – maybe you dig in your heels and silently say “I’m not ready.”

The scent of your life, should remind Him of why He died – not how He died.

Even if He still feels the nails, every time we fail, absolutely nothing that you’ve done or will ever do, can separate you from His love. Through the cross, you were given a hope and a purpose. How do you show your Saviour gratitude for what He’s done for you? What have you stored away for yourself, that you need to pour out on Christ?

He was always willing to die for you…

Are you willing to live for Him…

Prayer: Lord, I humbly come before you to relinquish all that I am, and all that I have, at the foot of your cross. Thank you for wearing my shame. Give me the courage to continually lay it all at your feet. Let my hope and worth be found in you alone.

~Vanessa

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