The always told story

This morning, I can’t remember how it came. But i know this what the Lord impressed on me. The scene where a woman, name Mary, pour out very expensive perfume, all…, on a man’s, name Jesus, feet. Something that never crossed my mind before. And depth of the scene….

I was told that the perfume was very hard earned by the woman. It’s probably her entire life’s saving. According to the culture during those days, woman works and saves to buy the expensive perfume for their big day. It took them about 17 years just to save enough to purchase it.

Besides the point (imagine it was not so, due to today’s sceptisicm) … the passage alone tells us it’s very expensive item. Also beside the point of how precious hair to woman, and how dirty a man’s feet is (imagine you’re telling this to sceptist audience). The point is, deep inside every of us, we all know what is precious, lovely, adorable, lofty and what is lowly, despised, disgusting, dirty. Throughout ages, no matter what culture…….woman’s hair is always treated with high respect and carries certain dignity. Throughout ages, feet is always the bottom, the lowliest, the smelly and dirty part of the body. And expensive remains expensive acrros times.

So, this thing the Lord impressed on me. What Mary did on that day, has turned the world upsided down. She demonstrates an acceptable service to God. By giving out her best, for the most humble cause. Yes, giving the BEST for the WORST. It certainly something that didn’t occur to me before. It’s true that we’re giving our best for everything. Be it great or small matter, we’re to give our best. However…when it comes to the ugliest part…where it doesn’t demand an attention….would we still giving our best? Knowing that it just doesn’t fit?

I think, that’s probably the blindspot for many of us. Mary knew very well her position. She knows who she is, and who JEsus is. She knew that she can’t never give out enough. That even her very very best, won’t even fit for the ugliest part of Jesus. There’s nothing in and out of her, ever worthy enough for Jesus. Even the lowliest and meanest of all. The best isn’t good enough.

I think, that’s true humility. Till the realization comes…….that our best, just doesn’t fit into His lowliest. Nothing from us or of us which ever be worthy enough for His service. Then only then…….really an acceptable service. A true devotion from the heart.

No wonder that Jesus said to her, wherever the gospel is preached, the story will always be told….in memory of her   (Mark 14:9, Mat 26:13)

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