Daily devotional · March 14
Costly Love
“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him. Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” Judas 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 take from what was put into it. “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.””
Six days before Passover, Mary took a pint of very expensive perfume, poured it on Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house filled with the fragrance. Judas objected that the money could have helped the poor, though the Gospel tells us he did not truly care about them. Jesus defended Mary, saying she had kept it for the day of his burial. She may not have fully understood, but she recognized that this moment called for extravagant devotion. Love for Jesus is sometimes lavish and does not calculate. It does not exclude serving the poor, which Jesus assumes we will always do, but it makes room for worship that costs us something. Today, give God something that costs you a little: a portion of your time when you are tired, a generous gift, an unhurried prayer. Do it quietly, simply because he is worthy.
Prayer
Jesus, You are worthy of my best. Receive what I offer, however small. Amen.