If I worked my whole life and saved up money, I might have enough to give each of my kids one year’s wage at the time of my death. How would I feel about them using it to by a single bottle of perfume, and then using it all at once?
Honestly, the whole thing is fiction for me. There’s no way I am leaving my kids a year’s salary. (so if my kids are reading this…don’t get any ideas. Actually, your mom and I are planning on leaving you some old furniture, cardboard boxes filled with who knows what from who knows when, and a few collectibles that look like they should be worth something…but really aren’t.) But if I did see a huge sum like that poured out as it was in Mark 14 I would probably recoil in horror just like some of the guests at the table. I notice that Simon doesn’t protest. It says here that “He used to have leprosy”. I wonder if Jesus’ invitation was Simons attempt at saying “I can’t thank you enough”. Have you ever said that to the Lord in prayer? “Lord, there’s no way I could ever thank you enough”. I’ve prayed that. I wonder if the disgruntled guests who were offended by this woman’s extravagant act of worship ever voiced the same sentiment.
It occurs to me that the people who protest extravagance toward God are those who haven’t thought much about what God has done for them. The Bible refers to them as having been “forgiven little”. Simon was forgiven much, so He doesn’t protest at all. Of all the people at the table, this unnamed woman models the best expression of love and worship. It is so perfect, that Jesus, speaking prophetically says “her story will always be told”. And our discussion fulfills that prophecy again.
Contrast this powerful image of extravagant worship with Judas betraying Jesus for a day’s wage. On one hand we have someone who is not in the “inner circle”, female (considered less significant) and possibly of a lower social standing giving away $30,000. At the same time, Jesus’ friend is selling him out for $30. What motivated Judas? Was it greed? Was he simply confused about the way Jesus would come to power? Was he offended because Jesus “called him out” during the last supper? I don’t know. What I do know is that Judas loved little. Since he was with Jesus all the time, maybe he had begun to take him for granted. The woman at Simon’s house had little and loved much. Judas had much and loved little.
Of the two, I prefer to be like the woman who loves much.
“Lord, I’m sure there are many lessons to be learned from this passage, and I know there are things that you want to teach me that I am slow to understand. But my prayer today is that I would be so completely in love with you that there is nothing of myself that I would ever consider holding back. May my possessions be poured out extravagantly for You, may my worship be extravagant in honor of You, and may my life be a testimony to your extravagant love for me.
Tipping the jar,
PR