Mark 14:3-9 (NIV): While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. ”Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
On this night, a simple act of devotion quickly turned into an occasion for conflict and a clash of worldviews. The disciples still had no idea what was coming – that in just a couple of days their Lord and Master would be hanging dead on a cross, so badly beaten that He was barely recognizable. All they knew was that things seemed to be going pretty smoothly. Jesus had been hailed as a conquering hero just a few days ago, and he had handily won every debate with the Pharisees, the teachers of the law, and even the chief priests. As they saw it, things were looking up!
They were at the home of Simon the Leper in Bethany having dinner when Mary, the sister of Lazarus walked in (cf. John 12:1-8). She was carrying a very expensive alabaster jar of pure nard, a distillation from the root of the spikenard plant, but nobody paid much attention to her. That was until she walked over to where Jesus was reclining at the table, pulled out the jar, and broke the wax seal. The strong aroma of the perfume immediately filled the room, drawing the attention of everyone. She then poured the precious perfume on Jesus’ head, and on His feet, wiping his feet with her hair (John 12:3), and act of staggering devotion and honor.
It was a precious moment, one that could have served as an immediate object lesson to everyone gathered in the room. But a clash of worldviews erupted almost immediately. Judas (John 12:4) focused on the cost of the perfume – 300 denarii, or a year’s wages for a common laborer – protested that instead of just being poured out on Jesus, the perfume could have done so much more if it had been sold, and the money given to the poor. And others joined him in his opinion.
But Jesus quickly put a stop to the discussion by His terse, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her?” Mary knew how much the perfume was worth, how precious it was. In fact, that was precisely the reason that she had chosen to use it as she had. She owed Jesus so much. Just a short time ago He had restored her brother, Lazarus, to life after he had been dead for four days! She was so profoundly grateful that nothing was too precious for Jesus; nothing was too costly. Every drop poured out on Him was a song of thanks to the one who had saved her brother and changed her life.
But in all of this Jesus saw a deeper meaning, one that even Mary was not consciously aware of. Jesus knew that in just a couple of days’ time, as the sun was setting on the upcoming Friday, His cold, lifeless body would be being taken hurriedly down from the cross, and quickly placed in a borrowed tomb, all done hastily so as not to extend past sundown, when the Sabbath would begin. Even though Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus would quickly pack some spices among the wrappings, there would be no time to properly wash and anoint His body, showing proper respect for the dead. So Jesus accepted this sacrificial outpouring of love, devotion, and fragrant oil as the anointing of His body prior to His burial.
Father, Jesus told His disciples that those who wanted to follow Him should first count the cost, and make sure that they were willing to pay it: “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:33 NIV) Mary understood that. She had committed her whole life to Jesus, and everything that she had, she was willing to lay at his feet, regardless of the cost, regardless of the value. Lord, help us to remember how much we have received from You: blessing upon blessing, Your love, Your presence, and most of all, salvation and eternal life paid for by the precious blood of Jesus. Lord, if that doesn’t make our hearts as generous toward You as Mary’s was toward Jesus, we are in bad shape! Thank You, Father, again, and again, and again for all You have done for us. Amen!