Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” - John 8:1-12
Passions can sometimes get the best of us. They make us do crazy things. In this text, we see an example of Mary’s passion come to life as she pours perfume on the feet of this rabel rouser named Jesus.
Perhaps Judas had a point in raising a fuss about Mary’s actions. Who spends that much money on a bottle of fragrance only to waste it on someone’s feet? Think about all the things that could have been done with the money spent.
But Mary was doing what was required of a disciple: she served others, loved generously and showed extravagant hospitality. She modeled what Jesus would later share with his disciples when he washed their feet.
Jesus saw the passion and the hospitality shown in this extravagant act of anointing his feet. Maybe he recognized his own passion in this act.
And so he responded to Judas by saying: Leave her alone.
What extravagant act of hospitality is being required of you this day?
What extravagant act of hospitality is being required of you this day? Ummm.... I guess this is a good question. The first thing that came to mind was my trip to Guatemala to help fit kids with wheelchairs and supply schools with water filters. Of course, this isn't something I can do today, but it is a time when I felt as though I was participating in an "extravagant act of hospitality." In reality, I don't think we have an opportunity everyday to participate in "extravagant hospitality." I do think I am required to be hospitable each day. Maybe it's giving someone a smile, checking on someone, supporting a colleague, phoning a long time friend... Anyway, I did call my friend to let her know that I would be interested in another trip to fit kids with wheelchairs in Guatemala this summer.
OK, that being said, I've always had a difficult time with this Bible verse. I have to agree a bit with Martha. Martha is a worker. She doesn't feel appreciated. Mary is being extravagant, but couldn't she have shown her the same love and loyalty with olive oil?
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