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. John 12:3
Mary seemed drawn to the feet of Jesus. It is not surprising
that of all those who followed Jesus, Mary was the one to anoint His feet. The
disciples would have their opportunity to show the same love, but pride would
prevent them (John 13:12-13). Martha, too, was prone toward acts of service,
but she had developed a different kind of relationship with Jesus than Mary
had. While Martha had labored on Jesus’ behalf in the kitchen, Mary had
joyfully sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to Him teach (Luke 10:38-42). Because
Mary had come to know and love Jesus in this way, she was ready to humble
herself and offer this poignant expression of love to Him. Such depth and
sincerity of love comes only through spending time in close fellowship with
Jesus.
The way we express our love for Jesus depends on the kind of
relationship we have developed with Him. Our love for Him will not grow unless
we spend time with Him, listen to His voice, and experience His love for us. If
we find that our love for Jesus has waned or that we struggle to serve Him, it
is a clear sign that we must take time to sit at His feet. We may have been
involved in Christian activity on His behalf and yet neglected our relationship
with Him. After we have spent time in intimate fellowship with our Lord, and
after we have heard His voice and received His love, we will be prepared to
serve Him, even laying down our life for Him if that is what He asks.
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