Welcome back to Monday Markers. As promised last week, we have a guest today.
She posts every single day! It's a wonderful place to learn and grow in God's word. You can follow her at:
www.sandeoliver.com or https://theplantingplacewordpress.org/
Today Sande shares a story about a woman who knew Jesus personally. She is a woman who has deeply impacted both of us as one's example we desire to follow.
Enjoy!
She's Just So Needy!
Typically when hearing “she’s just so needy,” the
sentiment conveyed is one of disapproval and disdain. However, one of the women
of the Bible I admire most, was just this kind of woman, she was… well, she WAS just so
needy!
In
the big picture, she was a nobody.
We know very little about the background of
Mary of Bethany from the pages of Scripture; she was a woman from the village
of Bethany and the sister of Martha and Lazarus.
No elaboration regarding her
station, occupation, or other relationships are given. As a Jewish woman in the
days of Jesus, she would have been relegated to an inferior status with little freedom,
in essence, a nobody.
But
the pages of Scripture offer a view through the lens of our Savior, and this
needy nobody is brought into clear focus.
Mary’s family experienced a close
relationship with their Master, convinced of His love and believing in His
miraculous power.
When
Lazarus was sick, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus, “the one You love is sick,” John 11:3. And after Lazarus died, both
Martha and Mary expressed the same words they both fervently believed,
“Lord, if You had been here, my brother
would
not have died,” John 11:21, 32.
While
Martha had indeed articulated her belief in Jesus, Mary expressed her faith
passionately.
Therefore, when Mary
came where Jesus was, she saw Him,
and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord,
if You had been here,
my brother would not have died.” John
11:32
Mary
fell at His feet, unashamed of her great need, desperate for what only He could
provide. Scripture portrays two other accounts of Mary, and in all
three we find her, ultimately, in the same position, at the feet of
Jesus.
In
Luke 10 we see her sitting at His feet, hanging on His every word while her
sister, Martha, is distracted with serving. While Martha accused Mary of neglecting
her duties, Jesus defended and commended her,
“…but only one thing is necessary, for Mary
has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her, Luke
10:42.
In
John 12 and Matthew 26, we read of Mary’s extravagant display of worship anointing
His feet with expensive perfume and wiping His feet with her hair. And when
others accused her of such great waste, Jesus defended and commended her,
“For when she poured this perfume on My
body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. 13 Truly I say to you,
wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done
will also be spoken of in memory of her.” Matthew 26:12-13
She
was just so needy… passionately needy for what only Jesus could provide, and passionately
needy to somehow demonstrate her love and gratitude.
Because
Mary was a woman in need, she was an extravagant worshipper; the cost was not
her concern, not the cost to her possessions or to her reputation.
Because
Mary was a woman in need, she was recklessly devoted, unaffected by the
expectations or opinions of others.
Because
Mary was a woman in need, she was not distracted or pulled away from what she
knew to be her greatest need.
Because
Mary was a woman in need, she was authentic and focused. She sought approval
from none but Him, fixing her eyes and ears on Him alone.
Above
others’ expectations and all other competing things, what mattered most to
Mary was to be with Jesus and hear His words of life.
She just couldn’t seem to help it. She was
just so needy, except when she sat at the feet of the One Who fulfilled her every
unmet desire.
Mary
was just so needy, needy enough to live without hungering after the approval of
others, resulting in approval from the only One Who matters.
Her act of
authentic, extravagant and reckless devotion left the permeating fragrance of
her sacrifice.
Mary then took a
pound of very costly perfume of pure nard,
and anointed the feet of Jesus and
wiped His feet with her hair;
and the house was filled with the fragrance of
the perfume, John 12:3.
What
a wonderful privilege to be a woman in need. When we recognize our need we sense
the urgency to passionately pursue Him, to take our place at His feet.
There,
at His feet, our priorities are aligned, satisfied only when Jesus commends us,
even at whatever cost to our possessions or reputation. And choosing the “good part” will never be taken away
from us; it has eternal value.
When
the Lord speaks to us, it is ours to keep forever!
Does
the story of Mary of Bethany inspire you? Does her passion create a deeper
hunger for intimacy with your Savior? Will you join me in considering the
following questions?
- Am I “just so needy?” Do I truly know the depth of my need and the Only One Who can touch the places desperate for healing and fulfillment?
- Does my need cause me to passionately pursue Him, no matter the cost?
- Dose my life leave a permeating fragrance of authenticity, devotion, worship and gratitude?
- Would the Lord defend, and even commend, my worship and devotion?
- If Scripture were being written today, would I be remembered as a needy nobody who became an authentic woman of extravagant worship and reckless devotion?
If
we are less than satisfied with any of our answers, we are in a place of need.
Let’s ask Him to use our need to thrust us upon His feet, that we would become
women of extravagant worship and reckless devotion who know the truth; we are
just so needy.
Sometimes,
in my deepest dreams, I can’t help but wonder what Jesus might say about me.
Hopefully,
He would find me in my usual spot, sitting at His feet, and perhaps turning to
some angels He might exclaim, “She’s just so needy.”
Let’s
meet at His feet!
Sande
What a wonderful insight into the devotion of Mary. May we all remember and learn from her. Thanks, Sande!
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