IN 1962, a woman’s husband was headed to the gas chamber for a crime he did not do. She put an ad in a paper offering to work 10 years for a good attorney to defend him. A top lawyer saw her ad, felt pity, took over the case, and got all the charges dropped. The lawyer refused the lady’s offer. Still, the woman’s selfless love for her husband is remarkable. Mary, the brother of Lazarus also showed selfless love for Jesus. We read this in John Chapter 12, “Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.” Mary had come to know and love Jesus because frequently he visited her home. She had spent time in His presence listening, learning, and developing a close relationship with him– so close that when she now knew He was about to die, she was willing to sacrifice her expensive treasure of perfume to anoint his feet and wipe them publicly with her hair. Today, the closer we draw to our Lord in sweet fellowship the more dear He becomes to us; and the more willing we will be to show our love for Him as well as for others.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
