When last did it cost me?
May 30
John 12: 1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
This for me is one of the most beautiful passages of Scripture in the Bible. This is one of only two times when Jesus is recognised and anointed as King and Lord. Martha was busy serving and doing whatever she could for the Lord but Mary came with her most expensive perfume which was worth a year’s wages and pulled it out to anoint the Lord.
It is always interesting to see things from the outside and as we look at other people watching what we did, we see how some people were very scornful of her actions, for example Judas, while Jesus himself was so pleased. The one thing that Mary demonstrates a very, very clearly here and very well is that Jesus is so appreciated when we show our love and gratitude in a way which shows the level of our admiration. Mary pours the expensive perfume on Jesus feet as if she was anointing him and then she wiped his feet with her hair. It reminds me a little of Jesus washing his disciples feet and how it was an act of loneliness and servanthood.
The question I have to ask myself is when last did I show Jesus such adoration? When last I give him something that was so costly, either my time or my resources?