What makes a life stand out in the halls of history? Alexander the Great? John Rockefeller? Einstein? Shakespeare? But what makes a life memorable in the mind of Jesus?
Scripture Focus: John 12:1-3; Mark 14:9
"Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."
There is only one time in Scripture Jesus says something like this. Only one person whose life He declares should never, ever be forgotten. And it's not a king, not a conqueror, not a scholar. It's Mary of Bethany.
A woman whose love, devotion, sacrifice, and understanding is so worthy of attention that the King of creation says wherever the gospel is preached—every corner of the globe—don't forget the life of Mary of Bethany.
That's quite a statement.
So what made Mary's life worth remembering? Four things stand out:
First, her sacrifice. She takes a pound of pure nard—worth a year's wages, thousands of dollars—and pours it out at the feet of Jesus. Every single drop is worth hundreds of dollars. This may have been a family heirloom, her life savings, an investment. And in a matter of seconds, it's gone. Poured out at the feet of Jesus.
Is there anything too extravagant to bring to the feet of Jesus?
Mary doesn't drip a drop. She's not sharing with Jesus. She's surrendering everything she has, sacrificing everything she has for Him. David said in 2 Samuel 24:24, "I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing."
It's not a sacrifice if it costs you nothing.
Second, her humility. In 1 Corinthians 11, culturally speaking, the glory of a woman was her hair. And yet Mary takes her glory and turns it into a rag at the feet of Jesus. She wipes His feet with her hair.
Washing feet was the work of a slave—too low even for the lowest disciple. But Mary takes the form of a servant. And ironically, it is the lowest acts of service in Scripture that God magnifies the most.
Third, her insight. Jesus says in verse 7, "Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial." Mary knew Jesus was going to die. And this was her gift to Him. How did she know? Because of where we so often find her—at the feet of Jesus, listening attentively.
Fourth, her love. Mary is overflowing with love for her Savior. Piper says, "It's a beautiful thing when the worth of Jesus and the love of His followers match."
And what's the effect? Verse 3 says "the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume." Every act of private worship ends up affecting more people than you would ever anticipate. You live sold out for God's glory, and your life becomes an aroma, a blessing to the world around you.
Your job may seem mundane. Your tasks may seem menial. But as we see in the life of Mary, if you're serving the Lord, if you're walking in humility, if you're loving the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength—your life will be worth remembering in the mind of God.
1. What are you holding back from Jesus that He's asking you to pour out at His feet?
2. Are you more concerned with what people think of you or what God thinks of you?
3. Where do you spend your time—at the feet of Jesus listening, or distracted by a hundred other things?
Stay dialed in.