Mary's Lavish act of Worship

I have been attending a woman's bible study at my church on the book of John. One discussion in particular stands out to me...

As an author, John has a relational way of depicting the events of Jesus' life. He was, after all, the disciple whom Jesus loved. It is the interaction between Mary and Jesus described in chapters 11 and 12 that hits me anew this study.

Women were not allowed to have Rabbi's in the Jewish culture. A woman was to learn from her husband; he was to be the rabbi figure in her life. Yet Martha and Mary both address Jesus as Rabbi, or the teacher, in chapter 11 when he arrives at Bethany just after their brother, Lazarus', burial.

Also, women were only to let down their hair in the presence of their husbands. Yet 6 days before the Passover, at the dinner given in Jesus' honor, in the sight of Jesus, all his disciples, and Lazarus, Mary lets down her hair. Not only does she let it down, she uses her hair to wipe or clean Jesus' feet (which was considered one of the dirtiest parts of the body).

The pint of pure nard (an expensive perfume) that Mary uses is said to have been worth one year's wages. We find this out later when Judas objects to her lavish act by saying that the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. Yet in a single act of worship, Mary pours out an entire year's wages on Christ's feet - a gift that is spent and received in a single moment. There is nothing about her physical gift that can be saved or re-used - it is totally spent on anointing Jesus, and in spending it so, the fragrance fills the entire house.

Jesus knows that Judas' heart is not truly in caring for the poor, but in wanting to sell the perfume for selfish reasons. Amazingly, Jesus chides Judas and praises Mary - condemning him for his earthly perspective and commending her for her heavenly perspective.

John shows us many things about the heart of God through his depiction of the relationship between Mary and Jesus. Mary is not afraid to learn from Jesus, nor is she shy to lavish her worship upon him. She calls him her teacher, lets down her hair in front of him, and pours out one year's wages for one moment of worship - worship that sees way beyond the present moment, and into eternity.

So I have been challenged as of late - in what ways do I miss the opportunity to see beyond the present moment and into eternity, and how can I lavish worship on my Lord?