John 12:1-8 (NIV)
Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 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.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 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.
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
In all the tumult after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and due to His rather hasty departure due to the plotting of the Jewish religious leaders, Mary and Martha felt that they had not thanked Him appropriately – all of their focus at the time had been on Lazarus. But now that Jesus was passing through on His way back into Jerusalem, all three of them wanted to have a dinner for Him and His disicples.
While the guests were all reclining at the table, tender-hearted Mary poured a pint of expensive spikenard perfume on Jesus feet and head, wiping up the excess with her long hair. This perfume was quite expensive, worth about a year’s wages, showing that this family was not without means. But the cost didn’t matter to Mary. She was so grateful for what Jesus had done for her family that even this extravagant show of gratitude seemed insignificant.
The perfume was very concentrated, and the strong aroma instantly drew the attention of those throughout the dining area. One of them, Judas, quickly expressed his dismay with the entire proceedings. The perfume was valuable. If Mary had wanted to honor Jesus with it, she should have just given it to Him. He then could have sold it and used the money to finance His ministry for some time.
While that might have sounded logical, both John and Jesus saw a problem with his argument. John noted that while Judas was in charge of the money bag for their group, he was also a thief, and regularly dipped into the funds for his own benefit. So, when he saw the broken alabaster jar (Mark 14:3), he saw the sacrifice only what would not be available to him in terms of money.
But Jesus also had some input. He knew that no more was needed to finance His ministry, since it was only going to last a few more days until He was arrested and crucified on the Passover. Instead, Mary’s use of the perfume was entirely appropriate. Jesus’ body would be buried so hurriedly due to the approaching Sabbath that there would be no time to properly anoint it with sweet-smelling oils. So, He accepted this anointing as an appropriate preparation for His soon-to-come burial.
Father, it seems like any time we focus on the things of this world, like Judas, we become short-sighted. But Jesus always kept the big picture in view. And because of that, He never had to second guess what might be a better use of resources. He lived for each day in the calm assurance of Your provision, and so was able to fully receive this offering of devotion given to Him out of sincere love and appreciation. Lord, help my devotion to You be just as free, just as generous, maybe even as extravagant as Mary’s was. You have done no less for me that You did for her. Amen.