476
The Desire of Ages
Mary heard the words of criticism. Her heart trembled within her.
She feared that her sister would reproach her for extravagance. The
Master, too, might think her improvident. Without apology or excuse
she was about to shrink away, when the voice of her Lord was heard,
“Let her alone; why trouble ye her?” He saw that she was embarrassed
and distressed. He knew that in this act of service she had expressed
her gratitude for the forgiveness of her sins, and He brought relief to
her mind. Lifting His voice above the murmur of criticism, He said,
“She hath wrought a good work on Me. For ye have the poor with you
always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but Me ye have
not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to
anoint My body to the burying.”
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 Arimathaea
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. As
they stand about the cold, silent form, words of love are freely spoken.
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!
Mary knew not the full significance of her deed of love. She could
not answer her accusers. She could not explain why she had chosen
that occasion for anointing Jesus. The Holy Spirit had planned for
her, and she had obeyed His promptings. Inspiration stoops to give no
reason. An unseen presence, it speaks to mind and soul, and moves
the heart to action. It is its own justification.
Christ told Mary the meaning of her act, and in this He gave her
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more than He had received. “In that she hath poured this ointment on