Why Matthew 26:13?
Blog Post 10/14/2024
Why Matthew 26:13?
This verse in Matthew has taken up a permanent residence in my heart and in my mind. Scripture is full of countless stories of faithful women, who during that time in history were not even allowed to enter the temple and study the Word of God. And yet our Messiah’s ministry was so heavily influenced by many of these faithful women. We get to read about all the Sarahs, the Esthers, the Ruths, the Hannahs, and so on. A woman who faced intense adversity in their life, yet they never wavered in their faith in Yahuah. One of these faithful women is Mary. And yes, multiple Marys had profound effects on Christ and His ministry. But Mary of Bethany is one of the women who changed the course of my journey with the Messiah.
Mary of Bethany was the sister of Martha and Lazarus. (And yes, this is the same childhood friend of Jesus, who was resurrected from the dead in Christ’s final miracle before heading to the cross.) Her siblings always overshadowed Mary’s identity. Martha was known for her servant’s heart and hospitality. She was always seeking to serve those who entered their home. Martha always served diligently, ensuring everyone’s needs were met, long before hers were. She was essentially, the hostess extraordinaire. While Mary sought out a more intimate connection, and while Martha was rushing around serving those around her, Mary sat at Christ Jesus’s feet. Both sisters loved Jesus, but their expressions of love differed. In Luke 10:38-42, we see that Jesus brings to light these different expressions of love.
This moment captured in Luke 10, is very deep; but it is not the one that has spoken to me for months. The moment at Christ Jesus’s feet found in John 12 is the one permanently etched in my mind. We find Jesus sitting at a banquet table, a table set by Martha. Jesus was surrounded by his 12 disciples and Lazarus. This is taking place right after Jesus had resurrected Lazarus from the dead. Mary enters the room, and we see her return to the spot at Jesus’s feet. In this moment Mary performs her final and most important act of devotion. She brings with her an alabaster jar full of one of the most expensive perfume oils you could find back then. The price of this oil was the equivalent of a whole year’s wages. She pours this oil out onto Jesus’s feet and proceeds to remove her head covering (which I will share about the significance of this in a future post), so that she may wash His feet with her hair. This act is by far one of the most selfless acts to be seen leading up to the work on the cross that Jesus Christ did for all of us.
Many of you might be wondering why this has significance. And some may even be appalled by her using her hair to wash his feet. But I will share with you what I see when I look at Mary and Martha’s devotions. As women today, we can often feel that tension between the demands of service, and the desire for connection. Martha’s busy hands and heart of service can reflect our daily tasks in life. A poignant picture of the many roles we take on. Whether we are wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, and everything in between. Mary’s quiet heart and the yearning for His presence reflect the moments in our hectic lives when we long to simply sit at His feet.
The beauty of their story reminds us all, that both women hold value in society. Both women bring something to that banquet table of life. And like Mary, as women we are called to recognize and honor those moments that require a deeper surrender- a moment where nothing else matters, except to sit at His feet. In a world today that often measures success by productivity (Like Martha), Mary’s example teaches us that Christ Jesus values our hearts more than our accomplishments. So, whether we serve like Martha or worship like Mary, the absolute most important part to remember is that we do everything from a place of love and devotion to Him, our Messiah, our Savior.
So today, as you navigate the demands in life, be encouraged by Mary’s alabaster jar of faith. What you do in love for Yahuah may not always be understood or applauded by the world around you, but Christ sees it. Just as He vowed that Mary’s act of anointing would be remembered wherever the Gospel is preached, He sees the unseen sacrifices you make, prayers whispered in the quiet moments, the service given when no one is watching, and the purest of love poured out in devotion to Him.
Allow Mary’s alabaster jar to serve as a reminder that when we leave everything we have at His feet, those are the moments in which our cups with be filled again, so that we may be able to go on serving those around us like Martha.
Reflection for the Day:
What can I offer to Christ Jesus today that reflects my deep love for Him? How can I find a balance between serving like Martha and worshiping like Mary? And finally, what am I carrying in my alabaster jar that needs to be left at His feet?