HOLY WEEK: DAY 42

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 42


Mark 14:3-8

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the
home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman
came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume,
made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the
perfume on his head. Some of those present were
saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste
of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a
year's wages and the money given to the poor." And
they rebuked her harshly.

"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering
her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor
you will always have with you, and you can help them
any time you want. But you will not always have me.
She did what she could. She poured perfume on my
body beforehand to prepare for my burial." (NIV)


MEDITATION BY Gary Mayes


I would like to believe that I am a generous person, that I would be willing to let go of people and give away possessions with liberality. I would like to believe I belong in the company of those whose overwhelming gratitude for the life and work of Jesus makes it easy to give away all they have.

But, to be honest, I am not so sure I am that guy. When I read about the actions of this unnamed woman in Mark 14, I find it easy to wonder about the fiscal responsibility of her actions.

Sure, this passage raises a host of small unanswered questions. Was she a guest or a party-crasher? Who was she and why did Mark keep it a secret? What it is like to give away an entire year’s wages in a single act? What does nard smell like?

But if I could only ask one question, I would ask this woman, “Would you tell me the story of what Jesus did in your life to cause such extraordinary gratitude?”

You see, over the course of time, I find it easy to become practiced in measured religious expression and expectations. I quickly learn the boundaries of normal behavior in my church and settle in. I restrain myself to an unwritten code of acceptable decorum. Intellectually, my appreciation for all Jesus has done runs deep, but practically my expressions of gratitude and adoration are tempered by others’ opinions of propriety. In contrast, these actions of an unnamed woman stagger me.

I wonder if I forget how radically my life has been transformed. Or if I have settled for a level of adoration that is puny and pathetic compared to the scope of life I gained through Jesus on the cross.

I wonder what unrestrained worship and sacrificial thanksgiving might look like if I gave no thought to the opinion of “others in the room.”

With the breaking of a bottle, one woman shattered the illusion that worship is a managed or measured activity. She re-fragranced the entire room, and by her example invites us to respond to Jesus without restraint.

Lord, help me live with great awareness of your sacrifice, and help me give my life away accordingly.




REFLECTION


How has your life been radically altered by the presence and work of Jesus?


If you were to put words to your gratitude and adoration for all Jesus has done, what would you say to him as he prepared for the cross?


Just as Simon the Leper made this encounter possible by hosting the party, are there any people you should invite over for dinner in order to begin exposing them to the Savior who has given you life?