Mary poured a jar of perfume worth a year's salary onto Jesus' feet, then wiped them with her own hair.
The episode is a sermon preached at Calvary Baptist Church in Ottawa, based on John 11:55-12:11. It opens with a prayer and immediately poses questions about whether Jesus' demands on believers are too much. The preacher contends that Jesus can never ask too much because he is worthy of everything. The core of the sermon walks through the biblical story of Mary anointing Jesus' feet with expensive perfume. The preacher sets the scene: Jesus is in Bethany at a dinner with Lazarus, whom he raised from the dead, and Mary performs this act. Details are given about the perfume's value—equivalent to a year's salary—and Mary's humility in using her hair to wipe Jesus' feet. The preacher notes that the house was filled with the fragrance, which he connects to the spread of Mary's legacy globally. Application is made to modern worship, asking if believers honor Jesus with their resources, time, and dignity. Judas Iscariot's objection is examined, revealing his thieving motives. Jesus' response is analyzed: he says Mary anointed him for burial and that honoring him takes priority over helping the poor. The preacher emphasizes Jesus' worthiness due to his death and resurrection. The passage concludes with the chief priests plotting to kill Lazarus because many were believing in Jesus due to him. The sermon ends with a call to pour out love for Jesus as Mary did.
