While others debated and criticized, one woman poured out her wealth, love and tears. She took what was costly and gave it freely to Jesus—no hesitation and no restraint. What others called waste, Jesus called beautiful!
Because she understood something: Jesus was worth it!
He came to live perfectly in her place. He came to die the death she deserved for all of her sin and failure. He would be buried in her tomb. Yet, he would rise so that she would live.
Jesus was worth so much more than she could ever give. But she could give this.
And now a question for us to consider: What is Jesus worth to me?
Do I appreciate just how significant it is that God became flesh so that he could suffer and die for me? Am I conscious of the greater things Jesus came to save me from, including the grave? Do I realize how much God had to love me to send his Son into the world to rescue me?
She poured out perfume, but Jesus was preparing to pour out His life. Nothing we can give would ever be enough to compare with his gift for us. But our devotion and acts of service are not a payment, they are simply an outflowing of a heart that loves Jesus so much. That is why Jesus calls her act beautiful. That is why Jesus calls our acts of love for him and his people beautiful too.
READ: Matthew 26:6–13
While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”