The fragrant gift which Mary had thought to lavish upon the dead body of the Saviour she poured upon His living form. At the burial its sweetness could only have pervaded the tomb; now it gladdened His heart with the assurance of her faith and love. Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus offered not their gift of love to Jesus in His life. With bitter tears they brought their costly spices for His cold, unconscious form. The women who bore spices to the tomb found their errand in vain, for He had risen. But Mary, pouring out her love upon the Saviour while He was conscious of her devotion, was anointing Him for the burial. And as He went down into the darkness of His great trial, He carried with Him the memory of that deed, an earnest of the love that would be His from His redeemed ones forever.

Den duftende gave, som Maria havde tænkt sig at udøse over Frelserens døde legeme, udgød hun nu over hans levende skikkelse. Ved begravelsen ville dens søde duft kun være strømmet ud i graven. Nu glædede den hans hjerte ved sin forsikring om hendes tro og kærlighed. Josef fra Arimatæa og Nikodemus gav ikke Jesus deres kærlighedsgaver, medens han var i live. Med bitre tårer bragte de deres kostbare vellugtende urter til hans kolde, livløse legeme. De kvinder, der bragte duftende salver til graven, opdagede, at det var til ingen nytte, thi han var opstanden. Men Maria, som udøste sin kærlighed over Frelseren, medens han var sig hendes hengivenhed bevidst, salvede ham til hans jordefærd. Og da han steg ned i sin store trængsels mørke, medførte han erindringen om denne handling, en forsmag på den kærlighed, som hans genløste for evigt ville skænke ham.