Anointed at Bethany
6 ‘Leave her alone,’ said Jesus. ‘Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you,[a] and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.’
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.
Mark 14: 1-11
The road to Calvary is all about extravagant love. The cross being the ultimate expression of this extravagant love. Jesus Christ, the Son of God laying down his life out of love. Love for God in this ultimate act of obedience and love for you and me in an unparalleled act of sacrifice. The extravagance of Jesus love is incredible.
Yet it is not only Jesus who is to be extravagant in showing love. As this woman came to anoint Jesus who was eating in Simon the Leper’s home, so she was extravagant in her love for Jesus. Mark does not tell us who this woman was because he doesn’t want us to focus on who she is but what she did. Taking a very expensive jar of perfume, she breaks the jar and pours the contents on Jesus head.
We can only assume this perfume was precious, it was saved for, possibly kept for special occasions. Such has been Jesus impact on this woman’s life that she gives him what may well be the most expensive thing she owns; she gives him her complete adoration and worship not worrying how others are reacting. Extravagant love is not only what Jesus shows to us, it is what we should be showing to Jesus. How can we show that same extravagant love, what are we willing to give for Christ’s sake today?
Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, that you for your love, for it’s abundance and extravagance. Forgive me for the times when I fail to show that same extravagant love to you. Show me the things I hold onto instead of breaking open as an offering to you. Lord all to you I surrender, this is my act of love. Amen (Romans 12:1)