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She simply put Jesus first: herself second.

BibleGateway: John 12:1-8

ESV Text: John 12:1-8


KJV Text:

The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 1:6

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     1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.(KJV)


Hymn: TLH 366:
One Thing’s Needful

— Organ Audio

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1. One thing’s needful; Lord this treasure 
Teach me highly to regard; 
All else, though it first give pleasure, 
Is a yoke that presses hard. 
Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving, 
No true, lasting happiness ever deriving. 
The gain of this one thing all loss can requite 
And teach me in all things to find true delight. 

2. Wilt thou find this one thing needful, 
Turn from all created things 
Unto Jesus and be heedful 
Of the blessed joy He brings. 
For where God and Man both in one are united, 
With God’s perfect fulness the heart is delighted; 
There, there is the worthiest lot and the best, 
My One and my All and my Joy and my Rest. 

3. How were Mary’s thoughts devoted, 
Her eternal joy to find 
As intent each word she noted, 
At her Savior’s feet reclined! 
How kindled her heart, how devout was its feeling, 
While hearing the lessons that Christ was revealing! 
For Jesus all earthly concerns she forgot, 
And all was repaid in that one happy lot. 

4. Thus my longings, heavenward tending, 
Jesus, rest alone on Thee. 
Help me, thus on Thee depending; 
Savior come and dwell in me. 
Although all the world should forsake and forget Thee, 
In love I will follow Thee, ne’er will I quit Thee. 
Lord Jesus, both spirit and life is Thy Word; 
And is there a joy which Thou dost not afford? 

5. Wisdom’s highest, noblest treasure, 
Jesus, lies concealed in Thee; 
Grant that this may still the measure 
Of my will and actions be, 
Humility there and simplicity reigning, 
In paths of true wisdom my steps ever training. 
Oh, if I of Christ have this knowledge divine, 
The fulness of heavenly wisdom is mine. 

6. Naught have I, O Christ, to offer 
Naught but Thee, my highest Good. 
Naught have I, O Lord, to proffer 
But Thy crimson-colored blood. 
Thy death on the cross hath Death wholly defeated 
And thereby my righteousness fully completed; 
Salvation’s white raiments I there did obtain, 
And in them in glory with Thee I shall reign. 

7. Therefore Thou alone, my Savior, 
Shalt be All in all to me; 
Search my heart and my behavior, 
Root out all hypocrisy. 
Restrain me from wandering on pathways unholy 
And through all life’s pilgrimage keep my heart lowly. 
This one thing is needful, all others are vain; 
I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain.