Worship or Waste?

Today’s reading: John 11:55-57, 12:1-19

“Mary took a twelve ounce jar of expensive perfume...” - John 12:3

Does it make you cringe to read passages like this in the Bible?

Just like that, Mary has poured every drop of these fragrant twelve ounces on Jesus’ feet. 300 days of wages used up in a single moment of time. This was non refundable. She wasn’t getting this back. Jesus (in verse 7) seems to indicate that she bought this for his actual burial. Apparently she scrapped that plan in order to do this before his crucifixion and burial! It couldn’t wait.

This was an act of extravagant and sacrificial worship.

When was the last time you worshiped like this at the feet of Jesus, giving until it hurt?

Can you almost smell the fragrance of the perfume filling the room as Mary worshiped? The moment and the money wasn’t wasted, it was eternally invested.

Jesus, give us the faith in order to make the same eternal investments day in and day out as we live our lives for you and not for our own agendas.