“ ‘Leave her alone,’ Jesus replied. ‘It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial’ ” (John 12:7).
The disciples criticized this woman for what seemed to them to be a waste of money. Chief among the protesters was Judas. He wanted to know why the money wasn’t given to the poor. John explained Judas’ reason for complaining. “He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it” (John 12:6).
As for the costly perfume Mary poured out on Jesus, it is a demonstration of the fact that true love is extravagant. To observers this kind of worship may seem excessive. However, Mary looked at her brother, Lazarus, who had just been brought back to life and took the most expensive possession she owned and poured it out over Jesus. Those of us who have been brought from death to life can understand Mary’s act of devotion.
In Jesus’ explanation He pointed out something that Mary didn’t even understand. He was about to be executed. When Jesus died it was just before the Sabbath and no one was able to prepare Him for burial in the proper way. The women were coming to do that on the morning of the resurrection, but He was already alive. If Mary had not poured the perfume on Him He never would have been anointed for burial. Mary didn’t know, nor do we, how important our act of worship may be. When we worship extravagantly the impact may well be more important than we realize at the time.
