The Highest Place on Earth is found at the Feet of Jesus!
Highlight: John 12:1-6
Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was [a]who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for [b]three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; [c]she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
Explain: What a beautiful picture and story of worship and devotion. Mary unashamedly loved Jesus. She was living in a man’s world, yet unafraid to show her devotion to Jesus. She loved Jesus, worshipped Him, witnessed His resurrection of her brother, and believed He was truly The One sent from God. At dinner around the table, Mary came to Jesus with her most costly possession – a very rare and costly perfume. And once again we find Mary at the feet of Jesus. This is Mary’s favorite place in all of the earth – at the feet of Jesus. There is no higher place in all the world than “at the feet of Jesus.” She took the oil and poured out upon Jesus’ feet and then using her hair wiped his feet – thus washing and anointing His feet with her hair. A woman’s hair is in a sense “her glory,” and she is laying her glory down at his feet. The house became filled with this fragrance… it was the aroma of worship. And surely Mary’s hair carried the scent of this moment of worship for quite some time. As worshippers, we should carry the aroma of devotion to Jesus.
Judas wondered why she wasted this gift instead of using it for the poor. He missed it completely. Anything that we waste upon Jesus is no waste all. The greatest decision we can make is to waste our lives upon Jesus. That would be a life well spent.
Apply: I want to live my life at the feet of Jesus. Mary’s love, devotion and humility along with boldness simply impress me and inspire to be an ardent worshipper of Jesus. i want my life to have the aroma of worship with the beauty of Jesus filling my life. I want to life a life wasted upon Jesus, a life that the world may not understand, but one that will capture the Master’s heart.
Respond: Jesus, I want to lay my life down before you. I want to humble myself at your feet and fully worship you.
David Yarborough 