Episode 1148: Love and Honor

In today’s episode, we continue our series of devotionals based on the songs from our musical The Disciple Whom Jesus Loves. We turn our focus to one of the most intimate and powerful moments of worship recorded in the Gospels—the anointing of Jesus’ feet by a woman whose act of love was misunderstood by many, but honored by the Savior Himself.

In Luke 7, an unnamed woman, known as a sinner, breaks social norms and religious expectations to express repentance and adoration. In John 12, Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus’ feet with costly perfume. Though their identities differ, their posture is the same: brokenness yielding to love, and love overflowing in worship.

For centuries, Christian tradition often merged Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany, and the sinful woman of Luke into a single figure. But modern scholarship—particularly in Eastern Christianity—separates them, giving each woman her rightful story. Mary Magdalene: a healed follower and first witness of the resurrection. Mary of Bethany: a disciple of deep spiritual insight. The unnamed woman in Luke: a portrait of transformation.

Each story is unique. Each testimony vital. And each reveals how Jesus receives those who give everything out of love.

“Love and Honor,” a tender ballad, drawn from the perspective of Mary of Bethany, invites us into her heart:

“They see a waste, but I see a King—
I pour it all out, I give everything.”

Her offering was more than perfume—it was her trust, her dignity, her story. Others saw extravagance. Jesus saw worship.

Reflections:

• Worship is Costly. True worship is not measured in convenience, but in sacrifice. Like Mary, we are invited to pour out what matters most—not because God needs it, but because He’s worthy of it.
• Honor Requires Courage. When Mary anointed Jesus, she was judged. Ridiculed. Dismissed. But love compelled her. Sometimes, the greatest acts of honor come when we choose faith over public approval.
• Let the Fragrance Rise. Every act of obedience, every quiet prayer, every costly decision done in love becomes a fragrance before God. Your worship isn’t just heard—it’s remembered.