BIBLE
READING
ENTER
INTO THY CLOSET
Serving in Prayer
Read John 12:1–9
Verse 3: "Then took Mary a pound of ointment of
spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and
wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the
odor of the ointment."
What a sacrifice of love! One translation states that the
ointment was worth one year’s wages! That could be around
$30,000 in this day and age. You can just imagine Judas going
bug– eyed over that kind of cash being poured out on
someone’s feet! He then blurts out that surely this ointment
could have been sold and given to the poor. This is Jesus’
reply: "For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye
have not always" (v. 5). He was saying that Mary knew
where the immediate need was—in ministering to and loving
Jesus who was soon to die. Jesus preached compassion for the
poor, but, at this time, it wasn’t the priority.
In our day, we are seeing a great increase of church people
reaching out to the poor, whether it be the homeless in
America’s cities or the mission trips to the homeless and
hungry in other countries. This is right for the body of Christ
to have a heart of compassion to meet these needs. But, do we
ever overlook ministering to a more immediate need—the ones
Jesus has placed over us as pastors? Much virtue goes out of our
pastors on a daily basis as they minister to others—yet they
always must have the appearance of being on top of things. There
are burdens and cares that they pick up from many situations. Do
you think that some ointment of love would help to lift and
refresh them in their work? A card of sincere appreciation, some
money to go out to eat on, mowing their grass or washing their
car would do more for their spirits than you could imagine! Pray
for God’s guidance in serving your pastor, the servant of God,
on a regular basis. There are blessings for those who take care
of God’s servants (Mark 9:42).
