The aroma that fills the world
by Jacob Traeger
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Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume (John 12:3).
Read John 12:1–11
Before Jesus rides into Jerusalem, John tells us of his anointing. We might expect an anointing for kingship. Jesus’ mission is reaching a climax; John tells us that the crowds the next day will shout out blessings to the King of Israel, in fulfilment of prophecy.
But this anointing is anything but. It is an anointing for burial. A gesture of deep love and service. Mary is giving one of her most valued possessions, perhaps even her life savings, and wasting it by pouring it out on Jesus’ feet. That’s how Judas (and probably some of the other disciples) saw it.
In the churches I’ve been part of, we’ve remembered and celebrated Jesus washing his disciples’ feet on the Thursday of Holy Week. We would do well to remember also Mary’s anointing of her Lord’s feet. It is a generous, extravagant offering. The aroma of the perfume filled the whole house where they were eating.
The anointing Mary gives Jesus is indeed the anointing of a king, just not like anything we’re used to expecting. Jesus will be crowned with thorns and be enthroned on a cross. This is his coronation and glorification; ‘his disciples did not understand these things at first, but then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him’ (John 12:16).
A gesture of deep love and service. God has given God’s most valued possession, God’s only Son and saving life, and seemingly wasted it. Divine blood is poured on the ground as these same feet that Mary anointed are nailed to the cross.
If the aroma of Mary’s generous, extravagant offering filled the house where they were eating, how much more does the aroma of God’s generous, extravagant offering now fill the world where we live?
What valued possessions do I have that could come close to this gift? How do I honour Jesus’ life with them?
If Jesus’ mere feet were so deserving of this valuable gift, how precious must we be that God gives such a generous sacrifice! May the Spirit open your senses to the aroma of Jesus’ life in the world around you.
Holy Spirit, I confess that my life is not marked by extravagant generosity. Too often, I hold on tightly to the things I value, instead of being generous with them. Open my heart and all my senses to the generosity of Christ’s offering to the world. May my day be shaped by joy at his extravagant, abundant gift.
Jacob lives with his wife, Kate, in Canberra, where he serves as a pastor in the Molonglo Valley Gospel Community church plant. He loves that Canberra is a place full of interesting people, where Christians can serve, bless and pray for those making big decisions for Australia. In his downtime, you’ll find him hiking, cycling, playing board games or making homebrew with friends.
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