Motivated By Love
“But Jesus aware of this, said to them, ‘Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.’”
Jesus is dining in the home of Simon the leper. While dining, a woman enters the home and breaks an alabaster jar filled with expensive ointment over Jesus’ head. It offends the disciples, and they rebuke her.
Jesus responds differently. He rebukes the disciples, honors the woman, and says, “Wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” Jesus does not say this about anyone else.
Jesus’ response has caused many throughout history to ask the question, “why would he honor her for what she did?” I believe Jesus honors her because she didn’t just listen to his words. She responded to them.
As I have studied and read other’s studies of this text along with Mark 14:3-9 and John 12:1-8, I have concluded that the woman in all three stories is Mary of Bethany. If it was Mary of Bethany, her actions in Luke 10:38-42 reveal that she not only heard Jesus, but that what she heard compelled her to respond extravagantly.
In Luke 10:38-42, we read about Mary of Bethany sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him teach. It is believed that this happened about three months before Jesus was crucified. While he was teaching in Mary’s home, it is believed that he shared about his death and resurrection. Mary heard what Jesus was saying and understood. It caused her to respond by anointing him in preparation for his burial.
She heard and understood because she had prioritized hearing Jesus. She prioritized time with Jesus. Her life has become a testimony of what prioritizing time with Jesus produces: extravagant devotion and obedience motivated by love.
A life committed to prioritizing time with Jesus produces extravagant devotion and obedience motivated by love. I believe that is why Jesus says time with him is the one thing necessary.
Jesus invites us to prioritize the one thing necessary. When we do, it will produce extravagant devotion and obedience motivated by love. Receive his invitation and remember his words from John 14:15, where he said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
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