Today, folks get paid to touch people’s feet. But the woman in today’s lesson anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. That’s true devotion.
The regions of Galilee and Bethany were often dry and dusty. It was common for people to wash and oil their feet especially when they entered into a home after traveling. Usually, servants assisted with such menial work.
John 12:3 records this, “Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.”
Have you ever smelled something that conjured up a good memory? Here’s one for me—the burnt smell of ashes after the wood has burned in a fireplace. It reminds me of entering my grandmother’s living room. She lived in rural Mississippi and it seemed as though she burned the fireplace year-round. A good memory.
Just as the smell of ashes in a fireplace, today’s scripture, “and the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil” has conjured up a good memory.
I’m reminded that sacrifice is essential.
Google defines sacrifice as an act of surrendering a valuable possession as an offering to God. That’s exactly what Mary did. Not only did she surrender her costly oil, she got up close and personal by washing Jesus’ feet and wiping them with her hair.
Some thought that was too much—the oil could have been used to get a lot of money and the hair thing, was going too far. Her actions showed her true devotion. Truth is, that’s what sacrifice is all about.
Sisters Seeking The Savior
Seeking The Savior requires sacrifice. Like Mary, we must be willing to surrender our valuable possessions as an offering to God. Our time, our talent, and our treasure are valuable gifts that can and should be offered to our loving Savior.
Take time to sit at the feet of Jesus and consider what sacrifice looks like to you.