7 "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
John 12:7-8 (NIV)
Having freely received from her Master, Mary now freely gives. And while she suffered rebuke from the onlookers, our Lord marveled at her heart and defended her cause against the naysayers. Jesus knew her actions flowed from a heart full of love and gratitude. She had found peace for her conscience and pardon for her sins at the feet of our Lord and she thought nothing too great to bestow on such a Savior. Sadly, many still find it difficult to contemplate zeal of any sort for the honor of Christ. Shame on us! The plain albeit sad truth is that those who feel no debt to Christ will neither do much for Christ.
“Our task as laymen is to live our personal communion with Christ with such intensity as to make it contagious.” Paul Tournier
We are never to be lacking in zeal rather we are to keep our spiritual fervor in serving and praising the Lord even in the midst of worldly criticism. Jesus tells us that we are blessed – meaning fully satisfied – when we do. I am reminded of our Lord’s Word to us in Matthew:
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matt 5:10-12 (NIV)
Jesus’ Word appears as an encouragement to those who choose to take a stand for Him in this world. Scripture tells us that we as Christians can be assured of persecution – we should not be surprised by it - as we are not above our Master. Remember, Jesus was hated from His birth on as even as a babe Herod sought to kill Him. Our Lord alerts us to the fact of the world’s hatred later in John:
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.” John 15:18-21 (NIV)
I love the way our Lord defends Mary’s actions in our verses for today. He demonstrates His faithfulness in never leaving or forsaking us. That truth we can be confidently assured of. The writer of Hebrews tells us:
Because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." 6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Heb 13:5-6 (NIV)
“On Him then reckon, to Him look, on Him depend: and be assured that if you walk with Him, look to Him and expect help from Him, He will never fail you. An older brother, who has known the Lord for forty-four years, who writes this, says for your encouragement that He has never failed him. In the greatest difficulties, in the heaviest trials, in the deepest poverty and necessities, He has never failed me; but because I was enabled by His grace to trust in Him, He has always appeared for my help. I delight in speaking well of His Name.” George Mueller
Paul spoke of Jesus’ aid during his trials as he walked this earth - fleshing out the Truth presented to us in the Hebrew passage above:
16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Tim 4:16-18 (NIV)
The secret of Paul’s ministry was his total dependence on the power and strength of God. Despite every evil attack he rested secure in the fact that God would bring him safely home to His heavenly kingdom. With this mindset, Paul was able to keep the “sacrifice of praise” continually on his lips and in his heart:
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Eph 3:20-21 (NIV)
