This is a devotion not only for the children, but for mom and dad, too.
Martha and Mary were friends of Jesus. Their brother Lazarus was the man that Jesus raised from the dead. They wanted to give Jesus a special dinner to celebrate and give thanks. The dinner was held at the home of Simon, a leper that Jesus had healed. This was a night for celebration. Lazarus was alive! Simon was healed! What the guests did not realize was that in just a few short days Jesus would die.
The story tells about one woman who gave of the best that she had.
Go over the scripture about Mary's gift to Jesus during your family devotions. Some of these questions are geared toward children and some of the questions are harder ones for moms and dads to think about and answer.
12:1 Six days before Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Meaning: Jesus once again goes to visit Martha, Mary and Lazarus.
How close and dear these people must have been to him. He is comfortable in their home. He considers them his friends.
Ques: How comfortable is Jesus in our home? Do all of our activities include him? Is there anything you would not do that you normally do if Jesus were visiting in our home?
12:2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Meaning: This dinner may have been a celebration of Lazarus being raised from the dead. Jesus would have been the guest of honor, but a close second would have been Lazarus. While Lazarus has just been raised from the dead, in just a few short days, Jesus would be put to death on the cross.
Ques: What are most of the guests thinking about at this dinner? What do you think Jesus is thinking about as he attends this dinner?
12:3 Then Mary took a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume, and poured it on Jesus feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Meaning: The perfume that Mary used was very expensive—worth about a year's wages. It was bought as an investment … possibly to be included in her dowry. This was her most prized possession, the best she had to give.
She assumes the position of a slave. It was a slave's job to wash the guests feet. No woman would be seen with her hair uncovered and down, she assumes the position of humility. Mary took a pint of perfume worth a year's wages and poured it on the feet of her Lord. Then she wiped his feet with her hair.
1) Her offering was sincere and pure in motives.
Sometimes our own offerings come from motives that are not so pure. We wish to receive recognition for our beautiful voice or grand piano playing. We get irritated when no one thanks us for teaching faithfully week after week in Sunday School.
We want others to notice what we give to the Lord.
But Mary's offering was done out of a heart of humility. She uncovered her head. She took the position of a servant. She risked the ridicule of those around her to give to her Savior her very best.
What gifts are you able to give to Jesus?
What should be our attitude when we give of our best to the Savior?
2) Her offering was costly
Mary took the little box that represented her investment, her dowry, her most prized possession and gave it to Jesus. Sometimes we think we have given the Savior our best, when really it is our least or perhaps our leftovers. We hold back from Him those things that we cherish most. Our children. Ourtime. Our resources. Our fellowship.
Not only was Mary's gift expensive, but it was costly to her reputation. The disciples all rebuked her for giving her gift to Jesus. Judas said, "This should have been sold and the money given to the poor!"
What is the best that you have that you can give to Jesus?
What are your reasons for keeping some things from Jesus?
Are there opinions of people, criticism or careless comments that may be keeping you from giving your best?
Who should we do our best for—the people or for Jesus?
When it's done for Him does it matter what others say?
3) Her offering left a sweet smelling fragrance.
Mary did not want to wait until Jesus' death to honor him with her offering. She wanted to give him her best while he was there to enjoy it.
When Mary gave Jesus her best it left a sweet smelling fragrance throughout the house. That fragrance has come down through the centuries to us today, as Jesus said all that hear the gospel will know of what Mary did for me. Jesus was touched by her offering. The perfume of her unselfish act still lingers with us today.
What fragrance do you leave as you give unto the Lord?
Is it a fragrant sacrifice that is pleasing to Him?
Or is it spoiled by an attitude of pride or bitterness?
12:4-6 But one of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Jesus objected. "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. Meaning: Judas was the disciple's accountant. And he was a thief. He did not want the money from the perfume to be given to the poor. He wanted the money so he could take some of it. He was a disciple with unpure motives. His whole reason for following Jesus was to get in on the recognition, fame, and wealth that he supposed would be his as treasurer of the kingdom's riches when Jesus became King. He failed to hear Jesus when Jesus said that being his disciple was hard. The way was narrow. And in order to follow him you had to take up your cross.
How is Judas' attitude different from Mary's?
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1. His objection was not sincere or pure in motive.
Did Judas really want to give money to the poor?
What was Judas taking from the Lord?
What was the attitude of his heart?
What did Judas plan to do?
When you chose to follow Jesus did you think it would be easy?
Do you get upset when you face hardship as a Christian?
What are your motives in following Jesus?
Mary followed Jesus not hoping to take part of the best of an earthly kingdom, but in order to give of her best to her Lord. She invested her all to be a servant of the King.
12:7 "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she would save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you; but you will not always have me." Meaning: Mary received Jesus' recognition and praise while Judas received his rebuke.
Who sees and knows our heart and motives as we serve?
How does knowing this affect your attitude in serving?
Read Colossians 3:23. Write down the attitude that we should have as we work for the Lord.
Light a fragrance candle or incense. Talk about our lives being a sweet fragrance and sacrifice for God. Pray asking God to help your family to always give your best to Him.
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