The fragrant oil Mary used to anoint Jesus was worth a year’s wages. There is no evidence Mary knew He was going to be buried soon. She may simply have wanted to give Him the extreme purification before the Pesach. Mary and Martha were mentioned before. Martha loves by serving, Mary by soaking in His presence. Here she wanted to honor Him back and soak Him in oil. Jesus said she would always be remembered whenever His story is told.

Through Mary, God appreciated Jesus in front of everyone. Everything Jesus received, He received it as from The Lord. This appreciation, in truth came from God. Mary worshipped with abandon - unashamed, she gave her all. Today we may hear, “It doesn’t take all that.” People often look on in awe when extreme sacrifice is given, but hearts are convicted - how grateful we should be to God.

During the time Jesus was on the receiving end, He knew that what Mary was grateful to God for, her forgiveness, was contingent upon His obedience. The sacrifices of lambs and bulls and goats in the Old Testament and until then had not truly remitted sin, but was only sacrificed in faith until the time God would empower that previous sacrifice to take effect. The sacrifices of old were done in faith; redemption from sin, on credit, until the time Jesus’ blood, the only blood which would truly remit sin, would pay the price (Hebrews 10:1-12). If Jesus had not obeyed, the price of her forgiveness and ours would remain unpaid. We would be lost. Jesus was about to face extreme hardness and pain. Jesus, through Mary, received encouragement and refreshment to go on - a sign from God, a blessing from the Father.

Do we often look at our Sacrificers as though they simply love to sacrifice, as if they get joy out of the sacrifice, not quite understanding the sacrificer is human? Sometimes the sacrificer can begin only to look at themselves as Sacrificers, feel less than, and expect no other joy from life. But here God showed the Sacrificer and those who looked on, both the lovers and the haters, that Jesus was deserving of honor. Every good and perfect gift is from above. Mary prepared the sacrifice, separating Him as the special Gift He was, honoring Him as precious. She gave her best with abandon--unashamed. God anointed her, to anoint Him. Some people don’t quite understand us spending to appreciate our leaders, our Sacrificers. But we know our Sacrificers have input so much into our lives.

LEADERS:
In Jewish history, the Levites were housed by families they were priest over. Levites’ heritage was the Lord. This is why we have the custom of providing a parsonage for our pastors. The families are directly affected by the sacrifice and the holiness of their Levite. If the Levite fasts and prays, studies the word continually, and hears from God, the Levite’s constituent family will benefit, their lives greatly improve and their access to blessing is unlimited (Acts 6:2,4; 2 Timothy 2:4). But if the Levite is incontinent, cannot be obedient or sacrifice, are impatient, must eat and not fast - if they neglect to pray and study and hear Gods’ voice, if they must have the pleasures of the world continually, they will directly affect their house, church, and trusting constituents. Here, Jesus saw what the result would be of His sacrifice. He sanctified Himself so that He could sanctify those that were his. (John 17:11).

And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
(John 17:19)

God rewards,
He gives bonuses, and prepares us with good things. Some resent the blessings the obedient receive, as did Judas. They will not try obedience to receive a blessing; they try another way, such as Judas’ stealing. They always say give to the poor, when who is giving more to the poor than God’s obedient? If God had wanted this particular blessing of anointing oil to be given to the poor, Jesus would have stopped the woman from anointing Him and instructed her to give it to the poor, as Jesus always did as His Father did. Obey God. Sometimes, you will be misunderstood.