Mary Washes Jesus' Feet - An Act of Love
Mary Washes Jesus’ Feet – An Act of Love
"She has done a beautiful thing to me... Wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." — Mark 14:6, 9
Some moments in Scripture are so raw, so tender, that they take your breath away. The story of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet is one of them.
This wasn’t just a kind gesture—it was an extravagant, scandalous, breathtaking act of love. And Jesus said it would be remembered forever.
Why? Because true worship isn’t about propriety. It’s about pouring out everything you have at the feet of the One who is worthy.
The Scene: A Dinner at Bethany
Jesus was in Bethany, just days before His crucifixion. He was dining at the home of Simon the Leper—a man who had likely been healed by Jesus himself.
Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead, was there. So was Martha, serving as always. And then there was Mary—the quiet, contemplative sister who had once sat at Jesus’ feet while Martha worked.
But this time, Mary didn’t just sit.
She broke open her most precious possession.
The Alabaster Jar
In those days, women often saved expensive perfumes for their weddings. This wasn’t just any perfume—it was pure nard, imported from the Himalayas, worth a year’s wages.
Mary carried an alabaster jar—smooth, delicate, sealed to preserve the fragrance inside.
And then, without warning, she did the unthinkable.
She broke it.
The sound must have silenced the room.
The scent filled the air as she poured it over Jesus’ feet—not just a few drops, but all of it. Every last drop.
Then, as tears streamed down her face, she loosened her hair (something no respectable woman would do in public) and wiped His feet with it.
The room was stunned.
The Outrage
Judas Iscariot spoke first.
"Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages!"
The other disciples murmured in agreement.
They weren’t wrong—the poor were important. But their indignation wasn’t really about charity.
It was about control.
They wanted to dictate how Mary should worship. They wanted love to fit inside their rules.
But love like this can’t be contained.
Jesus’ Defense
Jesus didn’t just dismiss their criticism—He honored Mary’s act.
"Leave her alone," He said. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me."
Then He said something astonishing:
"The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me."
This wasn’t a dismissal of the poor—Jesus had spent His life serving them. It was a reminder: There are moments when love must be poured out without calculation.
And then, most breathtaking of all:
"Wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
Jesus ensured that Mary’s act of devotion would never be forgotten.
Why This Story Still Shakes Us
1. Love That Doesn’t Count the Cost
Mary didn’t hold back. She didn’t pour out a little and save the rest. She broke the jar—no going back.
That’s the kind of love Jesus deserves. Not leftovers. Not cautious, measured devotion. Everything.
2. Worship That Defies Expectations
Mary didn’t care what people thought. She loosened her hair, knelt at His feet, and wept. True worship isn’t always neat—sometimes it’s messy, emotional, even embarrassing.
3. Jesus Sees the Heart
The disciples saw waste. Jesus saw worship.
Man looks at the outside, but God looks at the heart.
What This Means for Us Today
For Those Who Feel "Too Much"
Maybe you’ve been told your love for God is too emotional, too extravagant, too weird. But Jesus treasures the kind of worship that pours out without restraint.
For Those Who Hold Back
Are you calculating your devotion? Giving God only what’s "reasonable"? Mary’s story invites us to break the jar—to hold nothing back.
For Those Who Judge Others’ Worship
It’s easy to criticize how others love Jesus. But He defends those who seek Him with abandon.
Final Thought: What’s in Your Jar?
We all have an "alabaster jar"—something precious we’re tempted to keep sealed.
Maybe it’s:
Your time
Your dreams
Your reputation
Your finances
But worship happens when we break it open at His feet.
Mary’s perfume was gone in moments. But the fragrance of her love lingers even now.
What will you pour out for Him?
Reflection Questions:
What is your "alabaster jar"—the thing you’ve been holding back from God?
When have you held back in worship because of what others might think?
How can you love Jesus more extravagantly today?
May we all learn from Mary—to love Him recklessly, without reserve.
Amen.
Did this story move you? Share it with someone who needs to hear about unashamed love for Jesus!