What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you? (Matthew 26:15)
Jewish women loved perfume. If they could afford it, many wore perfume vial around their necks as pendants. When Jesus was having dinner at the home of Simon in Bethany, a woman broke an expensive bottle of perfume – Mark tells us it cost about a year’s wages – and poured out its contents on Jesus’ feet.
Notice she held nothing back. The bottle was broken. There was no saving a few drops for later as an indulgence. But that’s how love is. True love doesn’t count the cost. It just gives.
Immediately after this episode, Judas went to the religious authorities and asked what it would be worth to them for him to hand Jesus over. The priests offered him 30 pieces of silver, and Judas took the deal. The prophet Zechariah tells us that was the price of a slave (11:4-13).
We know how much value Judas placed on Jesus. A few pieces of silver. We also know how the woman valued Jesus. She lavished him with her most prized possession.
Jesus said: …wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her (v. 13). She is remembered for her extravagant worship. Judas is also remembered,… for his betrayal of Jesus.
Everyone is remembered for something. What will you be remembered for?
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