Aromatic fragrance simmers softly in the air… the potency of pine nard like lilacs and cinnamon… lingering… growing stronger by the second. Trickling… out from an alabaster vessel. It’s everything she owns… and everything she’s pouring out… like roses raining down.

A dinner is being given in Jesus’ honor and Mary is coming close to the Lord whom she loves.

“Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor.“ John‬ ‭12:2

‬I can see Mary looking into Jesus’ eyes… the eyes who already filled her to overflowing with just one glimpse. And now nothing would ever be too much to give Him…

In a room filled with jubilation, her eyes are fixed on the passion of the One in front of her.

Mary came through the door for one reason and that was to honor Jesus. He’s always the guest of honor.

“Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet & wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”
‭‭John‬ ‭12:3‬

She pours… and pours… and p o u r s … and He lets her. He wants her to.

Dinner had to wait… as she poured there was something more nourishing in this moment and it wasn’t food. Conversations put on pause so He could hear the dripping… the pouring… from her jar spilling out to show Him her love.

He didn’t tell her to stop. He welcomed every second of it.

Jesus likes when we pour our love on Him. ♥️ And He will put everything else on pause just for one more moment with you.  The others see and scoff at the scene but Jesus silences them.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of My burial,” He says to the others in verse 7.

Jesus has authority over everyone in the room. He always does.

And He won’t let anyone stop what she wants to give Him.

Mary pours out her very dowry here. It’s an elaborate display. And with this outpouring, she’s declaring that He is better than her own life… more desirable than her hope of marriage… and she will give everything to Him. To the One who’s worthy of all she owns.

Chapters later, Jesus is crucified for the sins of man.

Innocent blood poured out just like the dowry she spilled out because of love. Jesus gave all of Himself for all of us… and He is going to return again. Three days later He rose from the grave, and as He did He made His appearance again to those close to Him.

Jesus doesn’t appear to the disciples first.

He appears to Mary first. To the one who gave the most love. We see this play out in John chapter 20.

“So the disciples went back to their homes. But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she bent down and looked into the tomb.” John 20:10-22

It’s quite revealing how Mary remained at the tomb and the disciples went home. She loved Jesus so much she could not give up hope that He was gone… she could not contain her grief that He was sealed behing the rock and she just wanted to be close to Him. 

I think Mary knew something…

…that this same Jesus who raised her brother Lazarus from the tomb in John 11 is the same Jesus that could do it again and be raised to life. She she stays at the tomb.

She’s waiting for more…

Do you believe you can have more of Jesus?

Jesus wants to give you more of Himself… and when you believe there’s more of Him to encounter, you will receive the revelation of Him and experience Him when He shows us. Mary does. Soon, she hears a voice outside the tomb where she waits.

“Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” Because she thought he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni” (which means Teacher)…” John 20:15-16

I love the moment of epiphany here. At first, Mary doesn’t know it’s Jesus because He is now in His resurrected form.

It’s only when Jesus says “Mary…” that she recognizes its Him.

He says her name.

That’s the moment when Mary knows it’s Jesus.

Jesus knows your name… and He calls you by it… and when He whispers your name it’s an intimate beckoning from His very spirit to you… calling you closer and Mary knew the voice of her Lord calling her name. We discover who Jesus is when He reminds us who we are to Him. Jesus dignifies who you are because He Himself is worthy of all honor and gives that of Himself.

Let Jesus remind you who you are and you will discover more of Him in return.

Mary runs off to tell the disciples what she saw.

“Mary Magdalene came and informed the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what Jesus had said to her.” John 20:18

Mary was the first one Jesus appeared to when He arose… Her love meant something to Him.

Jesus desires our love.

I hear the Lord saying “I want more of you…”

He wants your love…

Jesus deserves our every breath… our every gift… our every affection. Be honored, Jesus. We live to love You and forever crown you as King.

every heartbeat lives

to beat for You

every breath inhales

to breathe You in

my King of kings

my Lord of all

Your worthy of it all

“Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You.” Psalm 63:3‬