6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you,[a] but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Makes me think the disciples were Norwegian. My mom used to use her teabags twice…because it wasn’t right to waste perfectly good tea. “OK mom…you’ve lost your mind”. As though it’s any of my business.
Some things are worth it…some things aren’t. But we only get to decide for ourselves.
Then again, maybe the disciples weren’t just cheap, but jealous…
The disciples new Jesus well. They were certainly comfortable with him. They probably weren’t comfortable with some strange woman taking liberties with the Messiah. They were “indignant” that anybody would act in a way they thought was not appropriate (how quickly we can become Pharisees!).
In particular, of course, we’re always uncomfortable when somebody appears to love Jesus more than we do…
The perfume is a metaphor. How much is the death of Christ worth? Apparently a lot, for the woman in Bethany. The disciples knew it, but had just never seen his worth measured in such an extravagant manner. The visual picture had to have assaulted their senses.
So let’s step back and take a breath.
Can we honestly think of any occasion where an investment in Jesus isn’t worth it? We may say “no”, but it happens all the time. Remember the rich young man who walked away from Jesus because “his barns were full”? He simply couldn’t give up what he’d worked so hard to acquire.
Or maybe we need the money for a plane ticket to visit the grandkids…
I remember a line from a movie…”My Blue Heaven”. The character (Steve Martin) said “I don’t believe in tipping…I believe in over-tipping”. The idea being, he wanted people to remember (through his extravagance) how appreciative he was of their service. Someday, they may return the favor…when he most needed it.
When it comes to Jesus, I want the world to think I’m an “over-tipper”…but they really don’t have a clue.
Live boldly out there today…
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