TOPIC:"The Glory of Never Being Forgotten"
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:Mark 14:1-9
"Verily I say unto you, Wherever this gospel shall be preached throughout the
world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her"
(Mark 14:9)
Paul S. Rees in a sermon on this portion of Scripture makes this very interesting statement: "Most of us quickly forget. Most of us are quickly forgotten." And in order to prove his point he asked his listeners to identify two men out of the past who served as Vice President of these United States. Most of those in the audience could not recall the names that he requested. We must admit: Most of us soon forget and most of us are soon forgotten.
But that is not true of Mary of Bethany. Though women were not considered very important in New Testament times, nevertheless Mary continues until this present day to be remembered and praised because she took her expensive perfume and anointed the head and body of Jesus. People today are still talking about the marvelous deed and loving devotion she exhibited to her blessed Lord.
Let me try to reconstruct the scene in which this glorious incident took place. At this time the Passover was being celebrated in Jerusalem in which the population grew to an immense number of people. As Jesus was making His way to Jerusalem He came to Bethany, a village about two miles from the Holy City, where He was entertained in the home of Simon. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were among the guests who had been invited to dine with Jesus. What joy there must have been around that table as they shared loving memories of what Jesus had done for them. Simon had been healed of his leprosy. Lazarus had been brought back to life again, while Mary on an earlier occasion had set at Jesus' feet.
Having lovingly and adoringly kept her eyes on Jesus, Mary suddenly jumps to her feet and leaves. When she returns she has an alabaster box containing the costliest and finest perfume. In a moment of unforgettable devotion and spontaneous worship, Mary breaks the box and pours the precious ointment on the head and body of Jesus. Then she anoints His feet and dries them with her hair. In John's account of the incident he tells us: "The whole house was full of the fragrance of the perfume" (John 12:3, Phillips).
Now when you do something like this for Christ you can be certain there will always be those who will grumble and gripe at what you are doing. The disciples were indignant to what Mary had done, but it was Judas who objected most strenuously. He declared in John chapter 12 verse 5: "Why on earth wasn't this perfume sold? It's worth thirty dollars, which could have been given . . .