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The Fragrance Lingers, October 27
Mark 14:1-11
Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached
throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken
of for a memorial of her.
Mark 14:9
.
The fragrant gift which Mary had thought to lavish upon the dead body of
the Saviour she poured upon His living form. At the burial its sweetness could
only have pervaded the tomb; now it gladdened His heart with the assurance of
her faith and love. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus offered not their gift
of love to Jesus in His life. With bitter tears they brought their costly spices for
His cold, unconscious form. The women who bore spices to the tomb found
their errand in vain, for He had risen. But Mary, pouring out her love upon the
Saviour while He was conscious of her devotion, was anointing Him for the
burial. And as He went down into the darkness of His great trial, He carried with
Him the memory of that deed, an earnest of the love that would be His from His
redeemed ones forever.
Many there are who bring their precious gifts for the dead.... Tenderness,
appreciation, devotion, all are lavished upon one who sees not nor hears. Had
these words been spoken when the weary spirit needed them so much, when
the ear could hear and the heart could feel, how precious would have been their
fragrance!...
Christ told Mary the meaning of her act.... He said, “she did it for my burial.”
As the alabaster box was broken, and filled the whole house with its fragrance,
so Christ was to die, His body was to be broken; but He was to rise from the
tomb, and the fragrance of His life was to fill the earth.... Looking into the future,
the Saviour spoke with certainty concerning His gospel. It was to be preached
throughout the world. And as far as the gospel extended, Mary’s gift would shed
its fragrance, and hearts would be blessed through her unstudied act. Kingdoms
would rise and fall; the names of monarchs and conquerors would be forgotten;
but this woman’s deed would be immortalized upon the pages of sacred history.
Until time should be no more, that broken alabaster box would tell the story of
the abundant love of God for a fallen race
[307]
46
Ibid., 560, 563
.
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