“Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Matthew 26:13 NIV
In a world consumed by popularity and platform, Jesus shifted the spotlight. He didn’t honour a celebrated preacher or a wealthy leader. Instead, He chose to memorialise an ordinary woman who quietly anointed Him with costly perfume. Her offering was simple, yet extravagant. It stirred disapproval from onlookers who called it wasteful. But Jesus saw something different—He called it beautiful. This moment, embedded in the Gospel, prompts a powerful question: What will be remembered of you?
This woman didn’t preach to crowds, nor did she write epistles or perform miracles. But she drew close to Jesus, recognised the moment, and offered her very best. Others stood by, missing the sacredness unfolding before them. She didn’t. Just days before the crucifixion, she anointed Jesus for burial, demonstrating discernment and devotion that few could comprehend.
Our culture often celebrates what’s loud and visible. But heaven esteems what is humble and surrendered. Her quiet act of worship filled the room with fragrance, and Jesus ensured it would fill the world with remembrance. He not only received her gift, He declared her act would live on wherever people preached the Gospel. She offered what she could, and that was enough.
This Gospel truth echoes through Scripture. A poor widow gave two copper coins—her entire wealth. Jesus noticed. He said she gave more than all the others because she gave her all, not some of her surplus. Mary of Bethany chose to sit at His feet while others bustled about, and Jesus called her choice “the better part.” Abraham offered his son in faith, and God not only provided but also called him His friend.
Time and again, we see that God doesn’t forget surrendered hearts. He doesn’t measure our lives by the acclaim we receive, but by the love we pour out. So, I ask again: What will be remembered of you?
Have you given Jesus something precious, not for attention, but out of love? Has your worship cost you something real? Have you dared to obey even when misunderstood? These are the moments that shape legacy in eternity, even if they go unnoticed on earth.
The beauty of this Gospel account lies in its permanence. Jesus ensured that her devotion would be told wherever the Good News was proclaimed. That woman’s act of love has become part of the Gospel’s aroma. What a profound reward. What a divine invitation.
Let us therefore live with this holy question in mind: What will be remembered of you? May we offer God our best in the ordinary. May we choose obedience over applause. And may our worship carry the scent of eternity, leaving behind a legacy shaped not by titles, but by love.
Living It Out
Today, reflect deeply on how you’re living your life. Are you giving what you can, where you are, with what you have? The world may never applaud your quiet sacrifices, but heaven sees them. Trust that God remembers every act of love, every costly offering, and every surrendered heart.
Live for what heaven will remember. Let your devotion leave a fragrance that lingers far beyond your lifetime.