This is a rhyming Bible story, based on the stories of Mary pouring perfume on the feet of Jesus in Matt 26:6-13, Luke 14:3-9, John 12:1-8.

Sam was inspired to write this version after hearing a talk by Duncan House. Duncan pointed out a few really interesting ideas, including the huge financial value of the "spikenard", and also the idea that, because this would have been such a powerful smell, there is a chance that Jesus would have continued to smell of it on the cross.

Duncan bought some spikenard and put it in a diffuser, and also anointed our heads with a drop of it, so we could also have the sensory experience of smelling what the room would have been like when Jesus was anointed. You could consider doing the same.

We originally used this poem version for Satellites Kids Venue 2026 - find more resources we used there here.
 

What did Jesus smell like? Have you ever wondered that?
Sweet, or sweaty? Lynx, or donkey? Fish, or smelly cat?
Well, there is this one occasion that the gospel stories tell
when an act of adoration gave our Lord a glorious smell.

You see, Mary had some perfume, the finest thing she had,
it was worth a year’s wages, that’s about thirty-five grand.
She could have spent it on a house, or clothes, or having fun.
If you had thirty five thousand pounds, what would you have done?

Mary knew this treasure was too valuable to hoard.
She went right up to Jesus, and onto his feet she poured
not just a tiny splash of nard, not just a spritz or drop,
she emptied the whole bottle, yes she poured and did not stop!

Now Jesus’ friends were horrified to witness what they saw.
“What waste!” they cried “this money could be given to the poor!”
But Jesus knew they didn’t really care about the needy,
and Judas would have kept the lot, ‘cause he was just plain greedy.

Pure nard is smelly, just a drop’s enough to fill a place,
so that whole jar on Jesus would have smelled for days and days!
When, in that week, Christ died, and then was buried in the tomb
did he still smell of Mary’s act of love - her best perfume?

Well, Jesus told his friends to stop their critical commotion.
“Don’t tell her off for such an act of beautiful devotion!
You’ll always have the poor to help - you won’t always have me,
show me your love and praise while you have opportunity.

She gave this gift to make my body ready for the grave,
prepare me for the moment when I’ll die, and you’ll be saved.
And where my story’s told across the years and through the nations,
they’ll tell the tale of Mary and her lavish adoration.”

Downloadable PDF version available.