Main Thought
In Luke 7 and John 12, we see two powerful moments where women offer extravagant devotion to Jesus. Both brought something costly—perfume of great value—and poured it out at His feet. Their actions didn’t make sense to everyone watching. Some saw waste. It was worship in the eyes of God. These women saw value in Jesus, so they held nothing back.
Grace is free, but devotion is costly. Jesus freely offers forgiveness, restoration, and new life - things we could never earn. Yet understanding the great things we’ve received from God changes how we respond to Him. We love because He first loved us. Loving devotion is costly. Devotion to God inspires us to offer things that are precious to us: not out of obligation, but out of love. When we do, sacrifices that might look like loss or a waste to the world become worship that honors God.
Main Passages
“And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner… brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.”
- Luke 7:37–38
“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”
- John 12:3
“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
- Luke 7:47
Discussion Questions
Has there been a time in your life when you had to sacrifice? Did it impact your faith and growth as a believer?
Both passages emphasize being at Jesus’ feet. Why is it important to live a life that consistently returns to His feet in humility, worship, and surrender?
Following Jesus is a gift, but it also involves sacrifice. What might “costly devotion” look like in your life right now (time, priorities, comfort, resources, etc.)?