Mary of Bethany
Recently I reread the story of Mary of Bethany. She was the
sister of Martha and Lazarus. She had a friendship with Jesus. She was there
when Jesus taught in her home. She sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to him
teach. She saw him raise Lazarus from the dead. Prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, “Mary
took a pound of very costly oil and 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). Judas was critical of Mary’s act, stating “the money should have
been given for the poor” (John 12: 5-6). Judas had no care for the poor but was
a thief and wanted the money for himself. The oil was “three hundred denarii”,
the equivalent of a year’s wages. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept
this for the day of My burial” (John 12: 7, NKJV). Matthew told the story this
way, Jesus said, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work
for me” (Matt. 26:10), “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is
preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a
memorial to her” (Matt. 26:13). I love the way Mark told the story, Jesus
said, “She has done what she could” (Mark 14:8). Mary of Bethany could not stop
the crucifixion; she could not change future events; but she did what she
could.
Gateway Worship wrote a worship song called Alabaster
Jar. Part of the song states,
This alabaster jar is all I have of worth
I break it at Your feet, Lord
It’s less than you deserve.
Mary did what she could. I used to work as a principal and
relief house parent at a Christian Children’s Home. I would have loved to adopt
multiple children and “rescue them”. God didn’t call me to take those children
permanently; He called me to “do what I could.” I could love them, teach them,
listen to them, pray with them, in that season (my time at the facility). There
have been so many times in my life when I wanted to change the
situation/circumstance for so many. I’ve learned that God just asked me to be
faithful, to do what I can. In addiction ministry, so many times I wish I could
“rescue” a family. My job is to listen, pray, and bring them the word of God. God
is the one responsible to change lives; He is the one that brings that harvest.
There are times I’m in a hurry or don’t wish to be bothered. I rush through Walmart
on a mission to get my items and leave; there are times I dodge people, so I
won’t have to stop and hear about their life. When a homeless person walks up
to me, in my heart I’m thinking “Really, Lord, I’m in a hurry.” Sometimes I
stop to help and pray. Other times, I avoid eye contact. What if every day, I
responded like Mary and did what I could. What if we all “did what we could?”
To learn more Read Mark 14: 3-9; John 12: 1-8; Matt.
26:6-13.
