“…She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.”
Mark 14:3
Mary of Bethany came to Smon’s house that day with a specific, deliberate purpose. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume to anoint Jesus. Mark tells us it was not only expensive…but adds the word VERY. We will learn in verse 5 that its cost represented about a year’s worth of wages.
This was a huge sacrifice. It was an offering of love and worship.
Mary held nothing back. She broke the jar and used it all.
She didn’t come in with a teaspoon….she didn’t pour out a drop or two…She was all in!
How about you and me? Have you ever jumped all in?
Do you and I give to God out of our abundance…our excess…our surplus? Do we wait to see if there is anything left over before we give to God? Are you hoarding the best and giving God the dregs?
Mary broke the jar! She gave it all! And the fragrance of that perfume would have filled that place.
I John 3:1 says:
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are!
It’s a fun word to say. It’s even more fun to experience. In a world where we’re taught to conserve, recycle, and be thrifty, lavish feels extravagant. God’s love for us without limit, extravagant. It has been lavished. We can lavish back. That’s what Mary did.
Absolutely, comprehensively, ultimately, thoroughly, perfectly, exhaustively, extensively.
She holds nothing back.
Are you ready to break the jar….break the bank…break a few less-than-important appointments?
Where are you holding out on God? Where is He calling you to be “all in?” To worship HIM completely?
Maybe it is the time needed in the Word. Are we giving ten minutes and congratulating ourselves for doing anything at all? What would it look like to “break the jar” on your schedule….let go of our agenda…and lavish His Word into your heart and mind.
Whether time, treasure, or talent, let’s ask God what jar in our lives needs broken?
I want to be “all in” – how about you?
Note: The teaching lecture on Mark 14:1-11 can be found here: http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/2014/04/04/ladies-bible-study-mark-lesson-25-laura-macfarlan-%E2%80%94-4-3-14/
