“But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.’” (Mark 14:6, NKJV)

If only we had the eyes of Jesus. If only we understood as He understands.

As Jesus is eating dinner at the house of a friend, Mary breaks open an alabaster jar of costly oil of spikenard. She anoints Jesus’ head and feet and wipes His feet with her hair, filling the house with the pleasant fragrance. But when the disciples see it, they are indignant and say, “Why this waste? This oil could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” Jesus replies, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has kept this for the day of my burial.” They saw the expense, but Jesus saw the heart.

People are so quick to judge matters they don’t understand. They judge by appearances, but Jesus knows our works and our heart. He sees everything we do and knows why we do it. He does not measure by how many dollars but by how much love.

Jesus commended Mary and said that wherever the gospel is preached, her deed will be told as a memorial to her.

We tend to live for the approval of others. When they misunderstand or question our motives, it hurts us; it damages our pride. But are we seeking to please God? Do we want to bless others? The Father sees the things we do in secret, and He will reward us openly. No one else may understand, but God understands.