March 1 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

John 12:1–7

Devotional

Christ is in the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus for the last time and a supper is prepared. It is a supper of love. Mary listened well to the teaching of the Lord Jesus and knowing that this would be the last time that the Savior would be in their home, Mary desires to give her very best to the Lord.

Christ is either worth nothing to us or He is worth everything to us. If the Lord is worth everything to you, you do not question how little you can give to Him in return. Rather, you ask how much you can give to glorify Him. “What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits given to me?”

At Mary’s gathering, Christ is anointed with precious ointment. At a certain moment during the supper, Mary takes the flask of expensive spikenard oil and pours it over the head and feet of Christ. The Lord said of Mary’s deed, “She hath done what she could” (Mark 14:8). The Lord was honored, not because Mary was rich and poured out valuable ointment, but because Mary gave all she had. In doing so, Jesus sees the extent of the love in Mary’s heart.

With the pouring of ointment the whole house fills with the beautiful odor. As Mary is pouring out this flask, she is also pouring out her whole heart. She does not show her love with words, but instead in this act she pours out herself before the Lord. Mary pours out the whole flask, contrary to the customs of the day. The practice was only to put a few drops of this precious ointment on the head of a guest. A whole bottle would be far too expensive, but Mary chooses to pour the entire bottle. She had reserved this bottle for this very use. Mary did this to confess that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed One. He is the Son of God, the Savior. She recognizes Him as the Surety. Christ said, “She did this as a preparation for my funeral.” This is the ointment that honors a dying King.

Mary learned much seated at the feet of Christ. She had not been seated there in vain. Mary listened intently. She listened so well that she learned to lose much of herself. We are such talkers but Mary learned to listen. Mary was finished talking. The fruit of her listening is that she recognizes Him as her Surety. We can learn well from her example. Have we finally stopped talking to listen intently to the voice of the Lord? Have we started to listen to His instruction? Then you will also recognize Him as Surety.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.