Mary of Bethany and the Better Portion Part 4: He Knew What It Meant (John 12:7–8)

Recreation of a 1st-century-style alabaster flask. Image generated through ChatGPT (OpenAI).

    Mary had not explained herself. She had brought what she had prepared and offered it directly to Christ. She poured the fragrant oil on His feet, and she wiped them with her hair. There were others in the room, and one of them spoke in disapproval. Judas Iscariot raised a question that sounded reasonable. He said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” (Jn 12:5 NKJV). But as the passage clarifies, he said this not because he cared for the poor, but because he carried the money box and used it for his own gain.

    Mary said nothing in response. But Jesus did. His words did not come in defense of her character, but in recognition of her act. He said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always” (Jn 12:7–8 NKJV). In those two short statements, He made known what the others in the room had not understood. Mary’s act was not excessive, nor was it wasteful. It was rightly timed. She had kept the oil for this purpose, and she had offered it in a way that prepared Him for what lay ahead.

    It is important to notice that Christ did not merely quiet the criticism. He revealed something the others had missed entirely. This was not just a moment of honor. It was a moment of preparation. Mary had come to believe what Jesus had said about His death. She had chosen to respond before it took place, not after. And though the others may have known the value of the perfume, only Christ acknowledged the purpose for which it was used.

    This passage reminds us that Christ does not only receive offerings. He also defines them. He alone knows the condition of the heart. He alone knows the timing in which something is given. The same act that some dismissed, He received as a preparation for His burial. His words gave meaning to what others misjudged. And those words remain.

    For those who walk quietly with the Lord, this passage may offer a steady reminder. There will be times when what is given or how it is offered will not be noticed or may be questioned. But the judgment that matters most is the Lord’s. He sees what others overlook. He speaks when it is needed. And when He receives something, He gives it its proper place.