Worship and Affection

John 12:1-3 “Then six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. There they made Him supper and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very expensive spikenard anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.”

In biblical times it was a tradition that when a guest entered someone’s home their feet were washed with water and their head was anointed with oil or perfume. According to James E. Talmage:

To anoint the head of a guest with ordinary oil was to do him honor; to anoint his feet also was to show unusual and signal regard; but the anointing of head and feet with spikenard, and in such abundance, was an act of reverential homage rarely rendered even to kings.Mary's act was an expression of adoration; it was the fragrant outwelling of a heart overflowing with worship and affection.

Additionally, spikenard was considered the oil of the Bride. It was the oil used by the bride to prepare herself for her marriage.

Reflection Questions:
1. How do we honor the Lord?

2. Does our worship express both adoration and an overflowing heart of worship and affection?

3. Are we preparing for the Bride Groom?

Prayer: Lord help me today be a person who honors you excessively, whose heart is overflowing with worship and affection for you, and one who is extravagantly preparing for you. Amen