As we walk together through Holy Week, we are at Tuesday. Mark records that two days before the Passover, Jesus was in the house of Simon the Leper having a meal with his followers. While there, a woman came and brought a container of extremely expensive perfume and used it all to anoint Jesus’ head.
This sparked some debate among the group because of the extravagant nature of the act. This perfume, we are told, was worth a year’s wages. In today’s terms, according to the national average income for 2011 in the US, that would have equated to roughly $43,000.
For one, I don’t have $43,000 to spend on perfume but even if I did, I am not sure I would have been willing to sacrifice it all to put it on Jesus’ head as an act of submission, honor and worship. But that is what this lady did.
Those present rebuked her for “wasting” so much money when that money could have been put to much better use. But Jesus stopped them and explained that she was following her heart and not holding anything back, but rather, was willing to serve him and honor him in what would be a preparation for his burial.
As I think about this event, I have to ask myself: how do I honor Jesus? Am I willing to worship him and serve him extravagantly? Or am I only willing to worship and serve him with my left overs?
What about you?
Clay in the Hands 
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