"When the
disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
For this ointment
might have been sold for much, and given
to the poor." Matt. 26:8,9.
"Verily I say
unto you, Where so ever the gospel shall be preached throughout the whole
world,
that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her." Mark 14:9.
that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her." Mark 14:9.
The Lord has
ordained that the story of Mary anointing Him with that costly ointment should
always accompany the story of the Gospel; that what Mary has done should always
be coupled with what the Lord has done. That is His own statement. What does He
intend that we should understand by it?
Clearly it is this,
that in approving Mary's action at Bethany, the Lord Jesus was laying down one
thing as a basis of all service: that you pour out all you have, your very
self, unto Him; and if that should be all He allows you to do, that is enough.
It is not first of all a question of whether 'the poor' have been helped or
not. The first question is: Has the Lord been satisfied?
It
is impossible. Our satisfaction comes unfailingly when we satisfy Him first.
