The account of Mary of Bethany in the gospels is at once heartbreaking and inspiring, and in it we see what the simple act of love and worship she rendered to the Lord truly meant. Mary was a simple woman who wanted to do something for Jesus that would last for all eternity, and she performed her service in the midst of satanic opposition. Many Christians today don't feel that they are able to get something done for the Lord, that they are not qualified or equipped to render service to Jesus, so they sit back and do nothing. Perhaps Mary of Bethany felt like that, too, but maybe she loved the Lord more than she feared condemnation from the people. Can you imagine what must have been going through Mary's mind as she made her way through the crowd to get to Jesus to break her alabaster box of ointment upon Him? Then when she finally gets there, only to be greeted by Satan in the form of Judas Iscariot who indignantly opposes her, and calls her loving and selfless service to the Lord a "waste", and mocks her! No one ever said ministry was going to be easy, in fact, it can be really hard at times. When all was said and done, Mary preached no sermon, no souls saved, and no revival broke out. But the Bible records that she "did what she could", and in the Lord's eyes, that was so good that He pronounced a memorial for her deed to exist as long as the gospel is preached. Join us as we pay a visit to Mary of Bethany to see her doing "what she could", and finding inspiration for us to go and do likewise. |
