“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.

Hearing, understanding, and acting in love — this is what this woman did, in response to Jesus’ prophecy of his death and resurrection. Unlike the disciples, who did not have ears to hear or a heart to understand Jesus’ plan and mission to save them; this woman (likely Mary, Lazarus’ sister) did.

Judas missed the faith of this woman and her incredible actions because he was so focused on building the disciples' treasury, so he could steal from it. The rest of the disciples missed it too. As evidence of this, they would later try to fight off the Chief Priests and Pharisees, and then they fled. They had no understanding of what was happening when Jesus was arrested. They could not or would not see it, for it did not align with their plans for him.

Mary, however, understood Jesus. And she was likely among the women who watched at a distance at Jesus’ crucifixion, and again showed up at his tomb. Her faith was strong.

In contrast, Judas, who had condemned Mary, left angry. He let the Devil have a foothold through deception and stealing; and now his anger would result in betraying the one who loved him most, Jesus.

So how will I respond to Jesus’ hard words and work in my life? Will I take on humility? Remember, this Mary was also deeply disturbed at her brother Lazarus’ death: “When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’” (‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭32‬). She knew his power and had faith, but was upset that he did not act in her timing. Jesus wept here, I think, in part because he knew the pain and anguish she was going through. Jesus later raised Lazarus from the dead, to the great glory of God.

So I think Mary must have learned from this first event, Lazarus’ resurrection, to simply trust Jesus and honor his sacrifice. She did this instead of trying to convince him to be a conquering King and free the Jews from captivity from the Romans.
Will I trust Jesus today with my circumstances and his timing, even when they don’t align with my own plans? Will I lay my plans at his feet and seek his will for my life?

Lord, thank you for your patience with me. You love me deeply. I lay down my best made plans at your feet — plans for my life, my wife’s life, my children’s lives, and the lives of my friends. I submit to your greater plans and timing for me. Teach me to honor you and your plans like Mary did.