Day 33: What a Waste
While he was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured it on his head. But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this perfume been wasted?
…Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing for me.”
Mark 14:3-4,6
Many will remember the tragic incident in 2014 where fire engulfed one of Scotland’s finest buildings, the Glasgow School of Art, destroying everything. Designed by the late iconic, Scottish artist and architect, Charles Rennie MacKintosh, refurbishment began in order to recapture something of what was lost — only for the same building to (unbelievably) go up in flames yet again four years later, a year or so before its completion. The loss was unmeasurably devastating as artwork, the famous library and historical architecture was gone for good. Not to mention the £35 million spent on renovation.
What a waste…
In our passage the scribes and the chief priests were in a fear-of-man based tizzy, hoping to find an opportunity to eliminate this fundamentalist ‘rebel’ called Jesus so their lives could get back to normal, with them in complete religious control of course. ‘Not during the festival, that would cause a riot’, they concluded.
Simon, a friend of Jesus who had been previously healed of a skin disease was hosting a wee dinner, when in comes this woman, seemingly unknown, anonymous to us in this account. Without inhibition, without fear, she proceeds to pour out a jar of incredibly expensive, aromatic perfume, all over Jesus’ head and body. Imagine a cascade of liquid gold running down Jesus’ face like tears, soaking his clothing, pooling on the floor around him. I bet there were audible gasps. He was saturated in the gratitude and worship of this adoring woman who possessed certain insight that present company somewhat lacked.
Peter, back in chapter eight brashly tells Jesus off for all his talk of suffering and dying. Peter didn’t want to hear it, he just didn’t get it. However, this woman by her actions was correctly declaring, “You will suffer, you will die, for me — thank you Jesus!” She was anointing him for burial, because as a ‘criminal’ he would get no such treatment. This alabaster jar of pure nard, worth £20,000-30,000 in today’s currency, was transfigured in a moment from being finite earthly treasure to infinite, eternal treasure. Now a precious permanent jewel in the crown of her King Jesus.
Yet these dull onlooking eyes could only see the negative, the insanity of her act, as if watching wads of cash going up in smoke instead of enjoying the pleasing aroma of an outpoured life being carried up to the throne of heaven.
What a waste….
Not long after these events, Jesus indeed would be killed. It was no longer sweet perfume dripping down his temples but streams of blood. All he could smell in those moments was the stench of sin rising around him, suffocating him. A perfect life, brutally murdered on a cross in shame. All those miracles, sermons, parables, good deeds for nothing.
What a waste…
Or - was this the sweetest aroma to ever reach heaven?
No matter how much money is spent on the Glasgow School of Art, it can never be the same. Charles Rennie MacKintosh died long ago. Now the character and history of his building is irretrievably lost.
This is how those critical onlookers might have felt watching this woman pour out a year’s wages down the drain and how many felt watching their rabbi, brother, son and friend hanging weak on a cross. What a tragic waste, how utterly regrettable.
But unlike a burnt up building, God raised Jesus gloriously from the dead. It seemed like the most tragic waste but it turned out to be the greatest victory. The good news is that we are invited to join him in that same resurrection but first our lives must look like a tragic waste. The world should be baffled by how we pour ourselves out for each other and show grace to our enemies. Our generosity should be extravagant because our time, money and resources are ultimately from God and to God himself. ‘We love because he first loved us.’ 1 John 4:19.
Ask God to show you how you might live in such a way that is noble and pleasing to him — a life that’s like the sweet aroma of Christ to others, the only scent that is able to awaken and compel dead bodies to pick up their cross and follow him into glorious life forever.
Written by Cara Bell
Passage for today: Mark 14:1-11
A thought to remember: Jesus’ sacrifice looked like a waste, but brought life for many.
A question to ask: How might you sacrifice for Jesus today?
A song to sing: All I Have Is Christ