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 for him to hand Jesus over to
them. 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?
TODAY’S MEDITATION
Ask God to help you value
more all that he has done for you through his Son Jesus Christ.
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