The Precious Ointment

In the Bible we learn of a woman who took “a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus.”* (John 12:3) This spikenard was very rich in perfume. It was the very best gift she could bring to Him whom she loved. This is a very beautiful symbol of the life work of a Christian. We, as Christians, are a sweet odor unto God in Christ Jesus. Everything you do for Jesus scents the air around the throne of God with a sweet fragrance.

Every prayer your offer in the Spirit perfumes the corridors of heaven. I read somewhere of a little girl who told her mama that God bade all the angels in heaven keep quiet when she prayed; then all the angels hushed their songs until she said amen. Amid all the songs and shouts and playing of harps in heaven God hears the prayers of His humble ones on earth. The odor of prayer from the hearts of God’s children on earth is as sweet to Him as the songs of angels. The things the saints at Philippi sent to Paul were an odor of a sweet smell to God. Cornelius’ alms-giving and prayers were kept in heaven as a memorial. So all your gifts and doings and prayers are a rich perfume, which God keeps bottled up in heaven as a memorial of you.

Your whole life, dear young saint, in all of its giving and doing, its sacrifices and prayers, its humble service and devotion, is to be constantly sending forth a sweet smell to God. This is spoken of in a beautiful figure: “While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.”* (Song 1:12) The king is Jesus, who sits at the table of our hearts; the sweet spikenard is our Christian lives. Jesus says, “I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”* (Revelation 3:20) The Christian’s heart is the dining room; there is a table spread with the graces of the Spirit, the fruits of the garden of the Lord. There Christ and the Christian sit down to dine together. While the glory of the one lights up the room, the holy life of the other perfumes it. O God, my soul doth magnify Thee for the preciousness of these thoughts.

When Christ was born, wise men came and presented to Him frankincense and myrrh, and in after-years Mary came and poured upon His head the precious ointment of spikenard. These things were literally done, and now when we bring our very best gifts, in the fullness of love, to the Lord, we are breaking the alabaster box of sweet ointment and pouring it upon His head. You owe Christ the very best of your life; yea, you owe Him your life. He must have all the affections of your heart. Christ must have the very best of everything out of your life. Do not use the dollars for yourself and give Him the pennies. Do not sip the honey from the flower and give Him the leaves. Do not eat the fresh bread yourself and give Him that which is stale. Do not give Him the well-worn garment and keep the best robe for yourself.

But how can we now give to the Lord! “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”* (Matthew 25:40) As you go about your life work as a Christian always do what you do as to the Lord. When you pray in public talk to Jesus the same as if He were there in person, and not to be heard of men. When you give money to the needy do it as if you were giving it to Jesus himself, for such it really is. If Christ should come to your door and ask for a drink, how eagerly you would get it for Him! You must remember that to give a cup of water to one of His little ones is the same as giving it to Him. When you visit a sick chamber and are invited to sing you should sing just as sweetly as if you were singing purposely for the Savior, and all your words should be spoken as tenderly as if you were talking to Him.

Jesus has given you the purest love of heaven; He has clothed you with the whitest robe; He gives you the very best heaven affords; and, O beloved, will you not give Him the very best life? Live with all your soul for Jesus; serve Him every moment. Bring the best of your life, its love, its service, its perfume, and pour them upon the head and feet of Jesus.