A Story of Extravagant Love
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
Martha served, Lazarus sat at table, and Mary worshipped. You could easily see how Martha represents work, Lazarus represents witness, and Mary represents worship. Martha, formerly chided, served—but not alone this time. She must have had help. There is no complaint when Mary does not help her this time. There is a place in the believer’s life for work. Faith without it is dead, and no faith. Martha is a representative of one part of what believers must be.
Lazarus the witness: Obviously we’re looking back at Chapter 11, when Lazarus had been raised. Missler notes that it seems like whenever anyone is raised from the dead, they’re hungry. Remember Jairus’ daughter? Bring her something to eat, Jesus said.
We are like Lazarus—dead without Christ, then bound with the grave clothes (sin) and finally seated at the table with Jesus. Where do we see believers seated with Christ? Revelation 19:9, Blessed are those which take part in the Wedding supper of the Lamb. Lazarus is us! The witness of Jesus is what allows us to overcome the enemy. Revelation12:11 says and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives to the death. Testimony and witness are the same word—a witness gives his or her testimony that what they saw is true. We must all be "Lazarus" in a sense--showing others what the work God has done in our lives looks like. But my favorite person to relate to here is Mary.
Mary the worshipper: Mary took a pound of Nard—otherwise known as myrrh, and anointed Jesus’ feet with it and wiped it off with her hair. Nard was a perfume made by crushing. It symbolized death and was used in embalming.
Mary wiped his feet with her hair—hair is the glory, the covering of a woman—her crown. Chuck Missler states that to the extent that Mary is in the role of the Bride, she is offering her crown to Him. When do we receive crowns? When we are given our rewards at the Bema seat. We then cast them upon the glassy sea, Rev. 4:10. I think John’s being called to heaven to view the things which will come to pass there is a “type” of our Rapture for this reason: see the sequence of events? The Tribulation cannot occur until the Lamb receives the seven-sealed book, which doesn’t happen until after the crowns are thrown on the glassy sea, which is right after the rapture of the saints and subsequent Bema seat judgment.
The other Gospels note that Mary anointed Jesus also on His head (Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9.) It would have run down His clothing and been caught in His hair.
She isn’t making petitions or asking for help, she isn’t even praising, just worshipping Him.
Mary’s sacrifice here is amazing—she’s giving away her dowry! This would have been the money she would have taken to the marriage. Unless there was some other source of money, Mary would likely now remain single throughout her life.
I was overwhelmed by Mary’s extravagant worship of Jesus. Could this fragrance, clinging to Jesus’ beard, His clothing, his hair, have clung to Him, reminding Him of her love for Him? Might this have been the one thing that strengthened His resolved and made Him able to bear the horrors of the cross?
Jesus had said, earlier in John, “If I be lifted up on the earth, I will draw all men unto me.” The word for lifted up has two meanings—the physical act, as in His death on the cross, and the act of exalting. If Jesus is exalted, in my life, will others see Him? Even if they don’t, I want to be this extravagant in my worship of my Lord.
Her sacrifice was extravagant. It was more than a gesture. Her worship was extravagant. It wasn’t requests, it wasn’t just praise—it was much more. It was her love for Him. Her love, then, was extravagant. It cost her something. I want to make a sacrifice and love Him wholly, with all I am.
I penned this while thinking about her amazing sacrifice:
Extravagant Love
Extravagant love, offered once, for all
She withheld nothing and gave everything
Proffered the one thing that was hers alone
In recognition of that gift He would give—
Her gift was expensive
But His more so
She knew it would cost His life
But this one fragrant offering
This shining moment
In service, in love,
Will be hers for all eternity.
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