Like a dark cloud over a Glorious sunset

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 expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance of the perfume. But one of the 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 didn't 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."

John 12:1-8

What a beautiful act of worship this was of Mary to give up something that was of high value to her, a whole years wages according to verse 5, for the sake of honoring Jesus.

Working a retail job at Banana Republic I will often hesitate to buy new clothes after considering how many hours I would have to work to earn that new sweater or whatever catches my eye at the time. It helps me spend more wisely when I look at the hours of work behind earning the money to buy it.

I think about the amount of money I make make in one year and then I imagine giving a whole years worth of effort and labor and pouring it at Jesus feet. In a matter of seconds the bottle is broken and the liquid is on pouring out with no hopes of retrieval. No second thoughts but a free abandonment of worship that causes a fragrance of worship, humility, love, surrender, adoration that floods the room.

Is this not the kind of worship that God seeks in us? A kind of devotion that costs us something? A part of us. Does God not ask us for a lifestyle of worship for Him? The fruit of our labor day after day cannot be spent on anything or anyone greater than Jesus himself!

To be continued...