THE FRAGRANCE OF GRATITUDE

“Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume” 

John 12: 3.

There are variations of this story in all the gospels. John tells us that it was Mary while Matthew and Mark said “a woman”. Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived in Bethany and were friends of Jesus. Lazarus took ill, died and was buried for four days but Jesus called him from the dead (John 11). On his way to the Passover Jesus visited then and they hosted a dinner in his honour. Jesus was reclining when Mary opened a flask of very expensive ointment, anointed his feet then let down her hair and wiped his feet. The strong fragrance from the ointment and the stench of negative criticism enveloped the room. However, in this expression of gratitude we see sacrifice, and carried out in a spirit of humility, worship and service.

Essential to the story is the question of why you we do what we you do for Jesus. What motivates us? Are our actions for Jesus sacrificial, worshipful and in a spirit of service? The perfume was estimated to cost more than a year’s wage. The best and most expensive gift is our lives and even that is not a true estimate of what we owe to the worth of Jesus. Have you been “wasting” your life on and for Jesus? Have your friends, spouse, siblings, children, co-workers ever suggested that your life could be better used?

Mary’s expression of gratitude emanated from sheer love and devotion and not just common esteem or out of duty or pragmatism. The sight of Mary letting down her hair in public and stooping to wipe Jesus’ feet was a statement of extravagant love and worship. The urge and urgency to demonstrate appreciation made her oblivious to what others would say. It seems as if she was saying: “Give mi pass mek mi praise mi God”. It’s like becoming so excited that we cannot hold back the “Amen!”, “Hallelujah”, raising our hands or singing at the top of our voices.

“Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial”. Jesus regarded this expression as an act of service in anticipation of his burial. When he died there was no perfume, spice, time or opportunity to properly prepare his body for burial. Gratitude must be expressed when we can because the time might come when we want to but cannot.

The Christian life is not easy. Christians will criticize and be unappreciative of what you are doing; the world may scorn and reject the message; we may be persecuted and even condemned for our sincere efforts; we may be misunderstood or deliberately misquoted. However, if we do what we do because of our love and devotion for Jesus it is never wasted and the fragrance will last for a long, long time.

Thought:            An attitude of gratitude is a pleasant fragrance.

Prayer Focus: For courage to express your thankfulness to God even if we you are criticized or abused.