Tag: Mary of Bethany

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Fruit of the Spirit

A Gift Born of Love, Worship from the Heart

Posted on by MaryEllen
Inspired by the LGG Study, The Fruit of the Spirit / week1, day1

The Road Map for today’s Journey: John 12:1-8 / SOAP: John 12:3

Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. ~ John 12:3

“The fruit of the Spirit is love…” This doesn’t surprise me, since the Spirit is from God, and God Himself is love, and He loves like no other. After all, the Bible tells us that He loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die on a cross so that all who believe in Him might live and have everlasting life. ~ Now this is love!

9God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10This is real love — not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.11Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.13And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. ~ 1 John 4:9-13 NLT

God also gives His Spirit to everyone who comes to Him by faith in Jesus Christ, and as we will learn on this journey, Paul wrote to the believers at Ephesus that His Spirit in us produces fruit. The fruit Paul refers to isn’t tangible, edible fruit ~ instead, it is the evidence of Christ living in us through His Spirit. There is no greater evidence of Christ in us aside from His love – for, as Paul wrote, anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Love is essential to Christian living because it is an essential part of God’s identity.1

Today’s journey reveals a beautiful illustration of love in Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, and a friend and follower of Jesus. John describes the scene in detail when he writes of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and of the celebration that followed. Lazarus and his sisters were among the guests. John writes that Martha was serving, and Lazarus was among those present at the table. Mary, however, is once again at the feet of Jesus. Unlike the account of  (Luke 10:38-42), where she sat listening to Him teach while Mary served, here she is found worshiping Him ~ literally at the feet of Jesus. She is pouring herself (emotionally and physically) out on her Lord ~ in true sacrifice and worship. Undoubtedly she worshiped Him for raising her brother from the dead, but it was more than that; her worship poured forth from her heart for who He was. This is made clear by the outward act and expense of the act, not just monetarily but emotionally, and as Bibleref.com explains, it was a self-exposing act, putting her in a position of lowliness…” as she wiped his feet with her hair. The commentary goes on to say, “Mary’s behavior was uninhibited worship and submission to Christ.” Some commentators suggest that it was more than her gratefulness for the resurrection of Lazarus, but John writes that Jesus defended her actions (which were harshly judged), saying: ‘Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.’ (John 12:7-8)

If you’re wondering why Mary’s worship of our Savior was so extravagant, consider this truth pointed out in the LGG study journal: “Mary’s love for Jesus flowed from a heart that had been sitting at His feet. She knew Him. She had learned from Him. And she had spent time with Him. It was out of that closeness that her love overflowed into one of the most beautiful acts of worship recorded in all of Scripture.”

Friends, as the journal goes on to point out, the love Mary displayed in this passionate act of worship “is the same kind of love that the Holy Spirit produces in us.” That’s right, His presence in us ignites and grows a love that is neither “safe, calculated, or convenient” but it is a wholehearted and transforming love that moves us to live, give, and worship not because of who’s watching or what’s expected but because of who He is and what He’s done. In Mary’s experience, that surely included her brother being called out of the grave ~ in mine, it was being hit by a car as a 6-year-old child but living unscathed…it was seeing my baby’s crippled feet made straight and whole…and witnessing my 10-year-old daughter’s cancer being cured ~ through years of difficult days and trials, yes ~ but surrounded by and filled with His love and strength for each new day … and the list goes on. What has it been for you?

These experiences and the ongoing awareness of His presence in and around me have led me to stay at His feet and my heart and mind to yield in praise and worship to Him. Whether in church, the quiet of my room, driving in my car, or in conversation with family, friends, or even strangers, praise and worship flow in abandonment to Him. Whether expressed inwardly or with arms lifted high and my voice crying/singing out, praise and worship are no longer affected by worry or fear of the people around me. To borrow another line from the journal – “it is a wholehearted, I’m-all-in-until-the-end kind of love.”

As I was writing and the term abandoned worship flowed from my fingers to the keyboard, I stopped to see if there was a definition for what I was trying to convey. I looked up the phrase, and while I am not a fan of AI, this AI overview of the worship song, “Abandoned“, was spot on with what I was trying to say: “… complete, unreserved surrender to God in response to the profound sacrifice of Jesus Christ.” Oh friends, may this be the way we serve and worship and live out our life on earth, with the hope that others will see/hear Him in us.

Who Am I? By Casting Crowns also came to mind as I was typing out the blog … “Who Am I is one of the most powerful and enduring contemporary Christian worship anthems by the band Casting Crowns. The song captures the humbling contrast between human frailty and God’s infinite love and sovereignty. Inspired by Biblical truths from Psalm 8 and James 4, the lyrics remind believers that God’s care and grace are not earned by human merit, but given freely because of who He is.” Is there any better reason to love and worship Him than this?

Who Am I

Who Am I, That The Lord Of All The Earth
Would Care To Know My Name,
Would Care To Feel My Hurt?
Who Am I, That The Bright And Morning Star
Would Choose To Light The Way
For My Ever Wandering Heart?

Not Because Of Who I Am
But Because Of What You’ve Done.
Not Because Of What I’ve Done
But Because Of Who You Are.

I Am A Flower Quickly Fading,
Here Today And Gone Tomorrow.
A Wave Tossed In The Ocean.
A Vapour In The Wind.
Still You Hear Me When I’m Calling.
Lord, You Catch Me When I’m Falling.
And You’ve Told Me Who I Am.
I Am Yours, I Am Yours.

Who Am I, That The Eyes That See My Sin
Would Look On Me With Love And Watch Me Rise Again?
Who Am I, That The Voice That Calmed The Sea
Would Call Out Through The Rain
And Calm The Storm In Me?

Not Because Of Who I Am
But Because Of What You’ve Done.
Not Because Of What I’ve Done
But Because Of Who You Are.

I Am A Flower Quickly Fading,
Here Today And Gone Tomorrow.
A Wave Tossed In The Ocean.
A Vapour In The Wind.
Still You Hear Me When I’m Calling.
Lord, You Catch Me When I’m Falling.
And You’ve Told Me Who I Am.
I Am Yours.

Not Because Of Who I Am
But Because Of What You’ve Done.
Not Because Of What I’ve Done
But Because Of Who You Are.

I Am A Flower Quickly Fading,
Here Today And Gone Tomorrow.
A Wave Tossed In The Ocean.
A Vapour In The Wind.
Still You Hear Me When I’m Calling.
Lord, You Catch Me When I’m Falling.
And You’ve Told Me Who I Am.
I Am Yours, I Am Yours, I Am Yours.

Personal Reflection and Application

  • Mary held nothing back when she expressed her love for Jesus. What is one area of your life where God is inviting you to love Him more extravagantly and hold nothing back?

Response of Prayer

Father, thank you for who You are and all that You have done. From creation to the giving of Your Son in human form, His death on the cross, His resurrection from the grave, His ascension into Heaven where He sits at Your right hand. Thank You for loving me and forgiving me. Thank You for giving me Your Spirit that I might love as You love and for all the ways that You have made a difference in my life. I am forever grateful and my heart is filled with love for You which I pray will forever overflow in word and deed from my life ~ for Your glory. Amen ~

The More We Know

2. (3) Mary anoints the feet of Jesus.2

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.

a. Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus: In the midst of the supper, Mary gave a remarkable gift to Jesus. It wasn’t unusual to wash the feet of a guest, but it was unusual to do it during the meal itself, to use very costly oil of spikenard to do it, and to wipe the feet with her hair, using the hair as a kind of towel.

· Mary’s gift was remarkably humble. When a guest entered the home, usually the guest’s feet were washed with water and the guest’s head was anointed with a dab of oil or perfume. Here, Mary used this precious ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus. She considered her precious ointment only good enough for His feet. “To attend to the feet was the task of the most lowly slave. Thus Mary’s action denoted great humility as well as great devotion.” (Morris)

· Mary’s gift was remarkably extreme. She used a lot (a pound) of a very costly oil of spikenard. Spices and ointments were often used as an investment because they were small, portable, and could be easily sold. Judas believed this oil was worth 300 denarii (John 12:5), which was worth a year’s wages for a workingman.

· Mary’s gift was remarkably unselfconscious. Not only did she give the gift of the expensive oil, she also wiped His feet with her hair. This means that she let down her hair in public, something a Jewish woman would rarely do.

i. Oil of spikenard: “Both John and Mark describe it by the adjective pistikos (Mark 14:3). Oddly enough, no one really knows what that word means. There are four possibilities. It may come from the adjective pistos which means faithful or reliable, and so may mean genuine. It may come from the verb pinein which means to drink, and so may mean liquid. It may be a kind of trade name, and may have to be translated simply pistic nard. It may come from a word meaning the pistachio nut, and be a special kind of essence extracted from it. In any event it was a specially valuable kind of perfume.” (Barclay)

ii. “It was very costly, but it had not cost a penny too much now that it could be used upon him. There was a pound of it, but there was none too much for him. It was very sweet, but none too sweet for him.” (Spurgeon)

iii. “The act is all the more striking in that a Jewish lady never unbound her hair in public. That apparently was a mark of loose morals. But Mary did not stop to calculate public reaction. Her heart went out to her Lord and she gave expression to something of her feelings in this beautiful and touching act.” (Morris)

iv. In all of this, Mary is a study of devotion to Jesus. “The life of Mary is painted for us, in three memorable pictures, in each of which she is at the feet of Jesus.” (Erdman)

· Luke 10:39: Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and learned.

· John 11:32: Mary fell at Jesus’ feet and surrendered.

· John 12:3: Mary anointed Jesus’ feet and honored Jesus.

v. “You must sit at his feet, or you will never anoint them; he must pour his divine teaching into you, or you will never pour out a precious ointment upon him.” (Spurgeon)

b. The house was filled with the fragrance of the oil: The sense of smell makes for long-lasting memories and John remembered how Mary’s essential oils made the whole house smell good.

  1. Bibleref.com, 1 John 4:8 ↩︎
  2. by David Guzik ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, She, Volume 1

Mary of Bethany, Part 2

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Adapted from She, Volume 1, p 41-42

Read: Mark 14:1-9

 Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of costly aromatic oil from pure nard. … 8After breaking open the jar, she poured it on his head.She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Mark 14:3, 8-9

For at least the second time, possibly the third (Luke 7:36–50; John 12:1–8), a woman anoints Jesus with perfume. At the home of Simon the Leper, an unidentified woman anoints Jesus’ head on the day the Passover lambs are being anointed (Mark 14:3–9). Jesus praises her gracious act of worship that prepares Him for His burial the next afternoon. (bible ref.com)

Hey friends, if you read the previous post, you may think I’m repeating myself with this one as we continue to focus on a time when Jesus was anointed with perfume shortly before His sacrificial death and burial. While this post, in part, is repetitious as its focus is, again, on a woman anointing Jesus with oil, there are notable differences. The two that stand out to me are 1)the woman is not named (though, with good reason, she is still believed to be Mary of Bethany) and 2)she anoints his head rather than his feet (John 12:1–8). However, today we zero in on the truth and encouragement that she did what she could (v8).

Mary of Bethany considers worldly losses or gains nonsense compared to the spiritual treasure of having Jesus

Bibleref.com/Mark 14:8

As Bibleref.com points out, “Jesus often warns His followers to count the cost of following Him. ” While the disciples “are more interested in what they can gain (Mark 9:33-38; 10;35-41), Mary of Bethany considers worldly losses or gains nonsense compared to the spiritual treasure of having Jesus (Philippians 3:8).” Remember, this is the same Mary, who had upset her sister Martha by choosing to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to Him instead of helping her with the duties of hospitality (Luke 10:38–42).

Jesus tells the disciples who question/criticize her actions to “Leave her alone”. He doesn’t stop there, though. He goes on to teach an important lesson for all of us, saying, “Why are you bothering her? She has done a good service for me. 7 For you will always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want. But you will not always have me! 8 She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial.“

Friends, I don’t know about you, but this one “stepped on my toes”, as I realized this isn’t just a lesson for the disciples of Jesus’ day but for all of His disciples. We are all to have this mindset, putting Him before our desires and above the cultural norm, living for Him, serving Him, sharing Him pleasing Him, loving Him and others as He has loved us … dying to self.

Mary did what she did, not so that others would remember her but to glorify and honor her Lord and master. Yet, to this day, just as Jesus said, she is still remembered for what she did. Which begs us to ask ourselves:

What will you be remembered for?

Mary gave what she had, and Jesus used her and her gift to point others to Him and what is important to His cause. The truth is, we do not glorify God or bring others to Jesus through pious acts or great knowledge and wealth. We bring others to Jesus through our worship of God, humility, humble acts of kindness, love, and obedience. When we honor the true and living God with our lives, others will see Jesus and have the opportunity to know Him.

We all have something to give

Our time
Our talents
Our service

She, Volume 1/p42

I believe that we are wise to remember – God doesn’t desire or need our wealth or wisdom; nor is He looking for outward beauty. His desire is our hearts, given and poured out for Him, our lives a testimony of His love and work on our behalf.

Reflection/Application
  • What is it that you can give?
  • How does Mary of Bethany’s sacrifice and service inspire you?
  • What do you hope to be remembered for?
Response of Worship

1 Living for Jesus a life that is true,
striving to please Him in all that I do,
yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
this is the pathway of blessing for me.

Refrain:
O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to Thee;
for Thou, in Thine attonement,
didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other master;
my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live,
O Christ, for Thee alone.

2 Living for Jesus, who died in my place,
bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace-
such love constrains me to answer His call,
follow His leading, and give Him my all. [Refrain]

3 Living for Jesus wherever I am,
doing each duty in His holy name,
willing to suffer affliction or loss,
deeming each trial a part of my cross! [Refrain]

4 Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
my dearest treasure, the light of His smile,
seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
bringing the weary to find rest in Him! [Refrain]

Source: Our Great Redeemer’s Praise #595

The More We Know
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, She, Volume 1

Mary of Bethany, Part 1

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Adapted from She, Volume 1, p 39-40

Read: Matthew 26:1-13; Mark 14:1-9; John 12:1-8

I believe it is helpful to start with this bit of commentary from gotquestions.org:

All four gospels present an account of Jesus being anointed by a woman with a costly jar of perfume (Matthew 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9; Luke 7:36–50; John 12:1–8). Matthew and Mark relate the same event but do not give the woman’s name; Luke tells of a different woman, also anonymous, on an earlier occasion; and, in yet another event, the woman in John is identified as Mary of Bethany (John 11:2), sister to Martha and Lazarus. 

gotquestions.org

There are many women named Mary in the Bible, so it should be noted that Mary of Bethany, the woman mentioned in John’s account of the ‘alabaster box’, is also known to us as the sister of Martha and Lazarus (John 11:2). While Matthew and Mark did not identify the woman in their accounts by name, they related similar stories. Each story, though brief, is a beautiful display of an “extravagant act of worship”.1

The three women who anointed Jesus recognized Christ’s unequaled value and expressed their gratitude with unreserved love and devotion.  gotquestions.org

It is also worth noting that at least one of the disciples (if not all) complained about the woman’s act being extravagant and wasteful. In each of these accounts, Jesus corrects the disciples’ criticism/concern for what she had done for Him. My favorite response is found in Matthew 26:10:

“She has done a beautiful thing to me”. Christ explains that the anointing is to prepare His body for burial and that the woman’s act of love will forever be remembered wherever the good news is preached.

(Matthew 26:10)

Friends, to borrow a statement of prayer from the journal: “May we pour out our lives in service to Him.” May we worship Him with such reverence and awe that we hold nothing back ~ that He might say of us, “She has done a beautiful thing to me.”

Reflection and Application

(answers, thoughts, and questions may be left in the comment section below)

  • We may be criticized when we ‘pour it all out for Him’, but we must ask ourselves: Is quitting worth missing out on giving Him the glory He deserves?
The More We Know
Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study
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Reflections of Week 5, Beautifully Surrendered

Beautifully Surrendered, God’s Heart for His Daughters is a Love God Greatly Study

The women we’ve studied this week showed us that joy and praise can be part of our lives when we live surrendered to God through every situation. Actually, praise can be a catalyst for surrendering to God and being filled with His joy as ‘it’ [praise] keeps God at the forefront of our minds and hearts. Miriam led others to praise Him on the other side of the Red Sea and Leah praised Him despite her loveless marriage. Praise can also be the catalyst for others to praise God. This is what happened when the ‘women of Bethlehem’ saw how God had blessed Naomi with a grandson. When we live surrendered and follow God into battle for His people, as in the story of Deborah, praise will flow and joy will follow. When this happens others will see, as we did in the life of Mary of Bethany, who despite cultural norms and heartache chose to sit or fall or give her best in praise and adoration to the Lord – her Savior. There is much that can be learned from these beautiful stories. There is much we would do well to mimic. As with the others that we have read they are certainly worthy of reading and sharing again and again. If for no other reason they will undoubtedly spark praise and joy in our own hearts as they refocus us on the greatness of our God.

Life isn’t always easy so praising God isn’t always easy. Likewise, being joyful in all circumstances, as James suggested, is at best a challenge and at worst seemingly impossible. However, when we realize the key is maintaining a focus fixed on Him – past (what we’ve witnessed in the Scriptures or in our own lives), present (His fingerprints in our own lives and those we know), and future (His promises of His presence with us, constantly new mercies, and eternal life …) – we feed both praise and joy.

My dear brothers and sisters, consider it an opportunity for pure joy when you face trials of many kinds. For you know when your faith is tested your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

James 1:2-4

I have made this statement in previous weeks, but it bears repeating. Consider these stories and their truths often so that you do not grow weary and lose heart. Fix your eyes on Him and not the circumstances of Your life – only then will we truly surrender and say as Leah did, still in the midst of her loveless marriage, “Now I will praise the Lord!” As we saw again and again this week, the choice is ours. May we choose well – so that Jesus may say of us, “they chose the best part”.

“Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:42 NET

If you missed any of this week’s devotions from me you’ll find them at this link

If you missed any of the Love God Greatly Blogs for week 5 you’ll find them at these links:

https://lovegodgreatly.com/sing-to-the-lord/

https://lovegodgreatly.com/held-by-gods-hand/

https://lovegodgreatly.com/wholehearted-worship/

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study
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Mary of Bethany: At Jesus’ Feet

Day 5, Week 5 of Beautifully Surrendered, A Love God Greatly Study

Today’s Reading: Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-44, John12:1-11; SOAP – John 12:3

Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

John 12:3 NLT
Observation: What’s the Story

Mary was continually found at the feet of Jesus. Read the passage again and watch as she sits at His feet listening to Him talk and teach. Look and listen as she falls at His feet weeping over the death of her brother. Then, take in the beauty of her extravagant act of celebration and worship of Jesus’s resurrection of Lazarus; she poured out the best of what she had onto His feet and and then wiped them with her hair. Her devotion to Jesus was quite clear in both her words and actions, even to the point of defying cultural norms.

Application: How Then Should We live?

Jesus told Martha that Mary had “chosen” the best part. So, since a favorable opinion from Christ is the best of everything we can hope for, we would be wise to choose as Mary did to sit at His feet, soaking up His Words as we listen to Him talk or teach. Likewise, we should not be afraid to fall at His feet in our sorrows weeping and sharing our thoughts or regrets with Him. Mary did this and Jesus was “intensely moved in spirit”, even to the point of weeping and calling Lazarus out of the grave! Lastly, by Mary’s example, we should be willing to pour out the best of ourselves at His feet in grateful adoration of who He is and what He’s done.

Prayer: Response to His Word

Father, thank You for showing us Mary’s heart and passion for Jesus, our Savior. Despite cultural norms and people’s opinions she desired to be “at Jesus’ feet”. Oh that we might choose well, as Christ said Mary did – letting nothing hold us back from being at His feet.

YOUR TURN: Set aside time to read and reflect on each of the passages

What’s your take away from the story about Mary of Bethany?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Her Actions spoke louder than words

Many people praise God with their words, but Mary of Bethany praised God through her actions.

  • Why do you think her actions “spoke” louder than any words she could have said?
  • What can you do to sit at His feet?
  • What sorrows or concerns do you have that would be better laid at His feet?
  • What can you ‘anoint His feet’ with?
WANT MORE?

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