WJS10 – Jesus Saw Worship Not Waste

WJS10 – Jesus Saw Worship Not Waste

Scripture: Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-11 3 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. 4 Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. 5 “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly. 6 But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? 7 You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” (Mark 14:3-9 NLT) While Jesus was reclining at the table at a banquet, a woman (John tells us in his Gospel that it was Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus) came into the room carrying a beautiful carved alabaster bottle filled with expensive and fragrant perfume made from essence of nard, imported from India. The consensus was that the perfume and its valuable container were worth a year’s wages. That’s a lot! She broke open the jar, which unfortunately didn’t have a screw cap, and poured the perfume on his head. The entire house was filled with the fragrance! The other men present were indignant. “What a waste of such an expensive commodity! This perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor! Or used to pay for hotel rooms when we travel instead of having to camp out all the time! Or something, anything but this wasteful extravagance!” The others present saw waste! Jesus saw worship! Jesus saw her anointing his body for burial a few days ahead of time. Jesus was on his way to the cross and the last thing on his mind was to quibble over money. And he prophesied that her story would always be told, just as we’re doing today! (I address some of this “waste or worship” attitude here GN 01-15-20 Generosity and here GN 01-30-20 My Cup Overflows.) As you can tell, Jesus is re-working in me some attitudes toward Scarcity and Abundance, and True versus False Values. Please be patient with me! Prayer: Father, Thank you for patiently continuing the process of freeing me from old attitudes and giving me an appreciation for new ways of seeing. My friends and I really do want to see What Jesus Sees! Please keep opening our eyes! In Jesus’ Name.