The apostle John wrote how, “Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him”, and in chapter twelve and verse three of his book John shared, “then took Mary a pound of ointment … and anointed the feet of Jesus” where we read:
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus,
and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
The verse reads, “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus,” John began with the words, “then took Mary” which means “at that time Mary whose name means their rebellion lay hold of, carried and brought” “a pound of ointment of spikenard” or “a weight of about twelve ounces of perfumed oil or nard which is the head or spike of a fragrant East Indian plant belonging to the genus Valerianna, which yields a juice of delicious odor which the ancients used (either pure or mixed) in the preparation of a most precious ointment”, “very costly” which means “of great value and price”, “and anointed the feet of Jesus” or “and poured the ointment upon the physical feet belonging to Jesus who is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation”. John shared how “Mary” brought twelve ounces of valuable “spikenard” oil and poured it out upon Jesus' feet.
The verse goes on to say, “and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.” John continued with the words, “and wiped his feet” which means “and dried Jesus physical feet” “with her hair” which means “using her physical hair”: “and the house was filled” or “and the entire dwelling place, habitation or abode abounded and was with full measure” “with the odor of the ointment” which means “from the scent, smell and fragrance of the valuable perfumed oil”. John shared how “Mary” dried the feet of Jesus with her hair, and the whole home smelled from the fragrance of the “ointment of spikenard”.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how “Mary” responded to Jesus being in her home. This “valuable” “ointment” was poured out and spent upon Jesus' feet as a form of worship to Him. More than likely this was “Mary's dowry” which would sustain her after she was married should she be let go by a future husband, and the value of it would not only be monetary, but also representative of her “life's sustenance”. God loves people to “spend” their lives worshiping His Son Jesus, and when they yield their life to Him, it is as a precious “ointment” is being poured out in appreciation of Him. Those who are wise will “anoint” the feet of Jesus by humbling themselves before Him, submitting their lives to Him, and receiving Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time John shares about “Judas Iscariot” beginning to speak, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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