Mark 14:1-11  Jesus is dining at the home of Simon the leper. A woman comes to Jesus with an expensive vial of costly perfume.  John writes that this is Mary.  Mark and Matthew say that the perfume is poured over His head, but John writes that Mary poured it on His feet and wiped them with her hair.  In both accounts it is the disciples who become indignant and complain about the wasted gift.  Judas Iscariot seems to be the spearhead of this argument and John tells us that he (Judas) was in charge of the money box and pilfered what was put in it.

It is Jesus' response that is most touching.. "Let her alone; who do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me... She has done what she could; she has anointed My body before hand for the burial." ( v6, 8)   "She has done what she could.."  

The disciples could not stay awake in the garden.
They could not stand with Him at the trial.
Judas could not wait to betray Him.
The chief priests could not wait to kill Him.
Peter could not keep his promise and denied Him.

But, this woman.. did what she could.

Like the widow who gave the tiny sum.. all that she had; this woman, gave all that she could.
She anointed Jesus for His burial.. before it was too late.

Luke writes of another ( or maybe the same?) incident where Jesus is dining.. this time at the home of Simon the Pharisee..  A woman, labeled here as a "sinner".. comes in with an alabaster vial.  She anoints Jesus, weeping and wetting His feet with her tears, kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume.   Simon is indignant, not because of the money spent, but because he considers her unclean and unworthy to worship Jesus this way.   Here, Jesus tells a parable.. two debtors, both forgiven.. one owed 500 denarii and the other fifty.  "Which one will love him more?" Jesus asks.   The one forgiven more.. Simon answers. Yes..

These acts of sacrifice. and worship... from a sinful woman, from Mary, or from another anonymous woman... are the fruit of forgiveness, a greater love... for the One who would give His life for them.

May we do what we can. May we receive His sacrifice that brings us forgiveness from all our sin. May we come with loving tears to give Him our all.  Paul wrote this, " I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."  ( Romans 12:1)  This is doing what we can.. 

Father, here I am and I give You my all, today.  Take this body, I lay it down for You.  May Your will be done.  May I be filled with Your Holy Spirit today, that I might walk in Your ways and glorify Your holy Name.  Amen.