Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were a family of siblings that were friends with Jesus. Their home in Bethany was on the outskirts of Jerusalem. It was a place Jesus frequented during his ministry.

Six days before his death, Jesus and His disciples came to dinner at this family’s home. That evening, Mary brought out a jar of nard, a costly perfume, worth nearly a year’s wages. As was done for kings newly appointed to the throne, she broke the flask and poured the whole of it on Jesus’ head.

At a time when women’s voices were not welcomed in public, Mary announced Jesus’ Messiahship in perhaps the loudest way she possibly could. She overwhelmed her guests, her house — Jesus Himself — with a scent that could not be ignored, forgotten or misunderstood; she was anointing Him king. Perfume dripped from His head. Her house and her Messiah were engulfed with the potent aroma.

In Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus paired up loving Him with loving others. Though we can’t pour oil on His head, we can pour kindness onto others. We can lavish care on those around us, on those whose hearts He longs for. Like Mary, perhaps the loudest way we can do this won’t involve any words at all.