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Word or Works? Reward or Reverence?
By Brian | May 29, 2008
was reading today in John, chapter 12[a], and I ran into the story of Mary and the perfume. I was struck by the depth of these verses and rapidly jumped over to see the companion verses in Matthew 26[b]. While there are slight differences in the retelling of these events the root message remains the same. Our works are not, in and of themselves, pleasing to the Lord.
If you don’t recall the story it’s a simple one. A woman took a bottle of extremely expensive perfume and anointed the Lord Jesus with it. At least Judas Iscariot[a], and likely all His disciples[b], complained and said that the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus rebuked them, explaining that Mary had done a wonderful thing for Him.
We are told in the Word to help the widow, the orphan, the poor [c]. Don’t forget the rich man that Christ told to give away all his possessions for the poor[d]. Why is it, in this situation, the Lord clearly defended an action that His own disciples, who lived with Him, spoke with Him, and walked with Him, saw as wasteful and improper? Love.
Mary’s actions we’re made out of selfless love and reverence of the Lord. She made the choice not to do the “proper” thing. Instead she poured out a year’s worth of wages on the feet of Jesus Christ Himself. More than that, the son of God, the man who gave everything for others, defended her actions.
While serving others is an incredibly important facet of Christianity we may not serve for the rewards he has promised in heaven[e]. If we’re working for rewards than we are working. Working our way to heaven is no different than working for that weekly paycheck. It becomes a burden to us. But when we serve others because of love, it’s truly a blessing for all.
Footnotes:
a) John 12:3-8
b) Matthew 26:7-10
c) 1 Timothy 5:3
d) Matthew 19:21
e) Matthew 5:12
Topics: John, Legalism, Love, Matthew |