Threshing Floor Tabernacle

“Leave her alone”, is what Jesus said to Judas and the others who murmured about Mary anointing His feet with the very costly spikenard ointment. They didn’t understand what she was doing or why she was doing it. In their minds it was a wasteful act – money could have been put to better use. They underestimated the pure love and devotion she had for her Lord and Master – Jesus. Worship is more than a slow song. It involves deep-hearted devotion, reverence and service that spring from a heart of pure unadulterated love. The disciples were looking at the pricey ointment while Mary considered the price Jesus was about to pay for her salvation. They thought it was a waste, she knew it was worship. What she paid for that ointment paled in comparison to the price Jesus was about to pay for our salvation.

She fell at His feet and anointed His “feet” with very costly ointment. At His feet was not uncommon for Mary because we see her at the same place when they invited Jesus over for dinner according to Luke’s Gospel (see Lk 10:39). Mary was a true worshipper; she loved Jesus with all that was within her. It was never an issue of cost with Mary concerning the ointment; it was all about the One that she loved and the love He showed her.

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine…He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love... My beloved is mine, and I am his.”  (Song Sol 1:2; 2:4, 16)

This is a picture of how the Church is supposed to be in our relationship with Jesus – No-Holds-Barred. Nothing is to good or costly for our Master Jesus! His love for us should cause the spikenard of our spirit to release an aroma in His Presence that will please the Lover of our soul and put the enemy to flight! For Mary, words alone were not enough, but as John said in his epistle, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” (I John 3:18).  Jesus said, “she has kept this for my burial”, which meant she saved, guarded, and preserved it for that special moment.

There were many special moments in Jesus’ life and ministry where women were touched: The woman with the issue of blood; the woman at the well; the widow with the two mites; the widow of Nain whose son was raised from the dead; the Syrophenician woman; the woman with the spirit of infirmity for 18 years; on one occasion Jesus even addressed His mother Mary as “woman”. Special moments where the love of Jesus was made manifest. 

“While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.”