Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” (John 12:1-8, NRSV)
This is extravagant love! Love poured out for one.
Mary had a pound of perfume made from Nard and it was expensive. Judas said that it was worth 300 Denarii, and 1 Denarii was a days wage. So in today’s terms that would be about $58 for 1 Denarii. So 300 Denarii would be $17,400. Could you imagine pouring a bottle of perfume that costs $17,400 over someone’s feet?
And then on top of that, she dries them off with her hair! A very intimate extravagant display of affection.
But is it about the costs financially or the relationships?
I think that is what Jesus is getting at with you always have the poor with you. It is about meeting their needs, but that is more about being in a relationship with them than it is about funding.
So what is your relationship with God worth to you? Are you ready to intimately and extravagantly pour out your life for Him, like He did for you?
aSacredRebel 