“She did what she could.” Mark 14:8 (NIV)
While so many of the events of that last week of Jesus’ life on this earth are filled with boldness, danger, and the noises of both angry and praise-filled shouting, there is one story tucked in amongst all the drama. A quietly beautiful moment of adoration. From a woman who simply did what she could do.
Let’s set the stage, shall we?
Jesus and His disciples have gathered in Bethany, just a couple of miles outside of Jerusalem. They’re dining at the home of Simon the Leper—who, as a friend of Jesus, is presumably a leper no more. Lazarus, newly risen from the grave, is here also and reclines at the table with His Savior. Martha bustles away in the background, serving just as she did once upon another visit from Jesus. And Mary is found yet again kneeling at Jesus’ feet, not listening to His teachings this time, but rather offering us a lesson of her own.
What Mary Did
While the chief priests and religious leaders were plotting, while Judas was scheming, and while the disciples grappled with the dangers awaiting them in Jerusalem, Mary was breaking open an alabaster jar.
The jar was filled with pure nard, John tells us (12:3). An expensive perfume. Mary poured it all out, anointing Jesus with the fragrance of worship. And when the oil covered his feet, Mary unbound her hair—a thing women simply didn’t do in public—and used it to wipe His feet
Mary didn’t know all that Jesus would face in Jerusalem—though, the gravity of it was surely etched upon His face. But she did know Jesus was her Savior. She knew He had raised her brother, Lazarus, back to life. And she surely knew—as all the disciples did—that Jerusalem was brimming over with those who hated Jesus and wanted to see Him dead.
Even if Mary had known what was coming, her actions could not have changed the course God Himself had charted.
Her perfume wouldn’t stop the crowds, the arrest, the pitiful excuses for trials. She couldn’t stop the crucifixion.
But still Mary did what she could do. She anointed Him with more than perfume; she anointed Him with adoration. Unknowingly anointing for burial the One who would soon burst forth from the grave, defeating death for all who would do what she did . . . worship Him.
The Critics Came for Her
Mary’s actions were pure adoration, they were holy worship, they were beautiful, and they were . . . shocking!
Her actions earned her harsh criticism.
Indignant disciples declared, “What a waste!” (Matthew 26:8 NLT).
Judas raged, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages” (John 12:5 NLT).
“It should have been sold and the money given to the poor,” Judas justified (v. 5). Though his true agenda was thievery not generosity.
Note that this was no simple scolding or muttered mumbling, either. Mark says, “They rebuked her harshly,” (14:5 NIV).
Words of accusation spoken in anger.
And Mary, her heart wide-open in worship, would have been vulnerable to the attack. Especially this attack from those she likely believed she could trust. Now notice what Mary didn’t do. (There’s a lesson in here for us, I think.) She didn’t reply. No snappy comeback is recorded. No heated exchange. Perhaps she was too stunned or too hurt. Or perhaps the words died on her lips when Jesus spoke up. Not to chastise her, but to defend her.
“Leave her alone” (John 12:7 NIV).
“She has done a beautiful thing” (Matthew 26:11 NIV).
“She did what she could do” (Mark 14:6 NIV).
Strong words. Affirming words. Reassuring, hope-filled words, reminding us that when we offer what we can to Jesus—in worship, in service, in sacrifice—He counts it as “beautiful.”
The Greatest Things We Can Do
Sometimes the battle is too big, the problem too tangled, the sorrow so overwhelming that we know we can’t solve it all on our own. That’s when we do what Mary did all those years ago. We do what we can. We offer what we have: a sacrifice of possessions, a sacrifice of pride, and most beautiful of all, a sacrifice of praise. Why?
Because the enemy despises it.
Because it reminds us of who—and whose—we are.
And because it declares to our hearts and to the world who our Jesus is.
Holy God, when this world is chaos, and I don’t know what to do, remind me to do as Mary did: to do what I can do and to trust You with the rest. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Reflection Questions:
Mary’s world was in chaos. Her brother threatened, her Savior in danger, and there was nothing she could do about any of it. How was time spent in adoration of Jesus the best and most beautiful thing she could do?
When your world is in chaos, what is your first response? What if you chose to offer a sacrifice of praise instead?
Author Info
Tama Fortner
Tama Fortner is a bestselling writer and ghostwriter with over sixty titles, including Simply Christmas, Roar Like a Lion, and How Great Is Our God. With more than twenty-five years of publishing experience, she partners with leading voices in Christian publishing to create inspiring books for children, teens, and adults. She lives in Nashville with her husband, family, and two lively pups.