Giving Our Best

Text: John 12: 1-11

Here we see the story of a woman who honors Christ. She honored Him with her precious possession – with nard. Anointing a guest with perfume was a common Jewish custom at feast. Nard was a perfume from India. It was a very expensive perfume worth three hundred denarii’s which was equivalent to a year’s wages (vs. 5). Mary’s gesture of honoring Jesus leaves us behind with 2 important thoughts:-

1. She gave of her best to Jesus.
Vs 3: Mary could have done what she did with many other ordinary perfumes that would have caused much cheaper. Well, the Middle East is also known for manufacturing perfumes. So Mary could have just used an ordinary local made perfume to anoint Christ. But, she used the best perfume for Christ. She gave her very best – the best that she could afford unto the Lord. Jesus was so blessed and taken back by her gift not because it was an imported perfume but because of the attitude of her heart. Jesus deserves the best from us. Are we giving Him the best off all things? Or are we giving for the sake of giving. Giving is not only money but it also involves other areas of life (time, dedication & service unto God). Some give out of compulsion, but Mary gave out of love for the Lord. The attitude of her heart pleased God.

2. She gave in all humility to God
Vs. 3: Normally the host will not anoint the feet of the guest. It is the duty of the most menial servant to wash the feet of the guest. Instead, the host will always anoint the head of the guest with perfumed oil to ease the heat in the guest body (excessive heat during the day in the deserts). Instead of anointing Jesus’ head, she anointed His feet. She did not find herself worthy to anoint His head so she went down to His feet. To touch and anoint others feet, we need to have a great measure of humility. She totally deprived herself of her self esteem and humbled herself before the Lord. Moreover, the Bible tells us that she did not only anoint His feet, but she also wiped His feet with her hair. The hair of a woman is considered her glory and dignity. Mary used her hair to wipe Jesus’ feet. This signified her total humility and devotion. She not only gave her most precious possession, but she also gave herself without reservation.