Daily Encouragementنموونە

Such devotion to our Lord is very beautiful, as he himself said (Mark 14:6). There is the fact that it was given to him - not to his cause, but to him; there is the cost of it “an expensive perfume”; the humility of it - “she poured it on Jesus’ feet”; the abandon of it - “and wiped his feet with her hair”; the effect of it - “the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” All the elements of pure worship are here. “I would rather be in succession to Mary of Bethany,” said Campbell Morgan, “than to all the apostles put together.”

Such devotion was acceptable to the Lord. He does not consider the action a waste, but welcomes the worship that is his due. He reads into Mary’s action a deeper meaning which she probably felt but could not articulate. He holds her up as an example for all time - “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (Matt. 26:13).

Such devotion was criticized then and is criticized now, and the criticism comes from within the ranks of his followers. Let us beware when we criticize Mary, with her unbound hair, or a Samuel Rutherford, with his extravagant language, for if we look around we shall find we are keeping company with Judas!