The Beauty of Being “Too Much” – Lessons from Mary of Bethany
Have You Ever Felt Like You’re Too Much?
Too emotional. Too intense. Too quick to love.
If you’ve ever been told to quiet down, hold back, or not be “so sensitive,” then you might relate to Mary of Bethany—a woman who gave her all to Jesus, no matter how others saw her.
Mary was bold in her love for Jesus. She wept at His feet. She poured out a year’s worth of perfume as an offering. She didn’t care what anyone thought—her love for Jesus was extravagant, and she gave it freely.
If you've ever felt like your emotions, your passion, or your deep love for God made you “too much,” this is for you.
Mary Chose Presence Over Performance
Mary’s story first appears in Luke 10, when Jesus visits her home. While her sister Martha is busy preparing everything, Mary does something radical:
She sits at Jesus’ feet.
Martha, frustrated with doing all the work alone, asks Jesus to tell Mary to help. But Jesus responds:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)
Mary wasn’t concerned with the tasks—she was concerned with Jesus. She chose His presence over performance, and He honored her for it.
How often do we get caught up in doing for God rather than just being with Him?
Mary Brought Her Pain to Jesus
Later, in John 11, Mary’s story takes a painful turn.
Her brother Lazarus dies. And when Jesus finally arrives—days later—she falls at His feet, broken and grieving:
“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:32)
This isn’t a bitter accusation—it’s the cry of a daughter who loves Jesus deeply but doesn’t understand why He didn’t come sooner.
And what does Jesus do?
“When Jesus saw her weeping… he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled… Jesus wept.” (John 11:33, 35)
Jesus wept with her.
This moment shows us something powerful: Jesus isn’t distant from our pain—He sits in it with us.
If you’ve ever wept over something you didn’t understand, if you’ve ever asked God “Where were you?”—this passage reminds us that He is right there with us.
Mary’s Extravagant Worship
Perhaps the most well-known part of Mary’s story comes in John 12.
Days before Jesus’ crucifixion, Mary does something unexpected:
She takes a bottle of pure nard—an expensive perfume worth a year’s wages—and pours it out on Jesus’ feet, wiping them with her hair.
“The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (John 12:3)
Judas—the disciple who would betray Jesus—criticizes her:
“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” (John 12:5)
But Jesus defends her:
“Leave her alone… She has done a beautiful thing to me.” (John 12:7-8, Mark 14:6)
Mary’s act of worship was extravagant. It was costly. And to the world, it looked wasteful.
But to Jesus? It was beautiful.
Your Worship is Not a Waste
Have you ever felt like your love for God was too much?
Maybe you worship too loudly. Maybe you cry too easily. Maybe people don’t understand the depth of your devotion.
Mary reminds us that nothing poured out for Jesus is ever wasted.
What the world sees as “too much,” Jesus sees as a gift.
Keep Pouring Your Oil
Mary of Bethany teaches us three key things:
Choose Presence Over Performance – Don’t let busyness keep you from sitting at Jesus’ feet.
Bring Your Pain to Him – He weeps with you. He meets you in your brokenness.
Give Extravagant Worship – Even when others don’t understand, Jesus sees and honors it.
So keep being “too much.”
Cry when you need to. Worship with abandon. Love Jesus extravagantly.
Because you weren’t made to be quiet—you were made to pour out everything you have for Him.
And He sees you. He honors your worship. He welcomes your tears.
So go ahead—be too much.
Pour out your oil. Again and again.
Because worship is never wasted.