1 Six days before
the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised
from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor.
Martha served, while Lazarus was among
those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then 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. 4 But 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. " 6 He 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. 8 You
will always have the poor among you, but
you will not always have me." John
12:1-8
Each fall our
congregation does a series focusing on stewardship. Often when I think about
stewardship, I perceive it conservatively. I immediately ask myself “where can
I trim the fat and be more frugal so I that I can give more?” There's always room for simplification and to
really think carefully about how we are spending what God has blessed us with.
This story from John beats the concept of frugality to a pulp and throws
it out in the street with its brother practicality. There is nothing conservative, or stingy
about Mary here. The disciples are appalled at her wastefulness with
using a bottle of expensive perfume to worship and honor Jesus. They don’t understand. Jesus was so simple in living. Mary was being extravagant. When they gave her a hard time about it,
expecting that what Jesus would do, He defends her actions. I’m sure they
were confused and frustrated, but Jesus was delighted. The power of love and forgiveness has
transformed Mary’s broken life and story.
It had over taken her to the point of extravagant, over-the-top,
impractical worship. When we are called
and claimed as Christ’s, we are set apart and transformed. Life looks different when we see that no
expense was spared for our salvation.
Without realizing it, we’re moved to spare no expense, not even our
pride, to bring honor and praise to a relentless, loving Father. In the
Old Testament, when Solomon's temple was being built, there was no expense
spared to honor God in that place. There was no budget on the beauty,
time, or expense given to honor the King of kings. It pushes us to think about that seriously.
How can I worship and honor God extravagantly with what He has given me?
Am I so changed and in awe of God’s love for me to give up much for his
honor? How do we be good stewards of our resources and still worship extravagantly as a body? This week and in the weeks to
come, what does it look like to give up something valuable -- time, money,
attention, looking cool -- to fall at the feet of Jesus in worship for how
great His grace is toward us?
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