Day 4

Why This Waste of Perfume?

[John 13:2] During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas
Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him

We see this sad news of Judas' decision to betray Jesus. Mark 14 shows what decisively
made Judas turn away. Let's read that passage.

[Mark 14:3-9] And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was
reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very
costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There were some who said
to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment
could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And
they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has
done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever
you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done
what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you,
wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in
memory of her.”

The woman brought a very expensive perfume made of pure nard, broke the jar, and
poured it on Jesus’ head. Nard is a valuable essential oil. The woman poured a jar of it on
Jesus’ head.

How did people respond to this? Today we see it as something so precious, but some of
them were indignant at this. The perfume was very expensive. John recorded that it was
worth 300 denarii. In those days, one denarius was a day’s wages, so 300 denarii was
equivalent to a year’s wages. Therefore, it was such a ‘waste’ to break that entire jar and
pour it onto the Lord.

Breaking the alabaster jar and pouring perfume/oil on the Lord’s head was a sign of very
deep love. She was offering her most precious thing to the most precious being, even with
tears. But the disciples again had a different perspective. The betrayal of Judas came after
this incident. Judas was severely tested and shocked after seeing this love displayed.
Through this event, Judas received a big shock and was caught by Satan.

Where true love is revealed can also be where Satan carries out his work. If you
misunderstand love, then Satan will capture your heart full of hatred and jealousy. The
woman poured very expensive perfume on the Lord’s head, but it seemed like a waste to
the disciples. Her love was unconditional—she gave the most precious thing, her
everything, to the Lord.

When it comes to love, it is not wasteful to give all that I have no matter how much it is.
This is true love. The love shown by this woman is exactly the same as the love shown by
the Lord. She gave everything without sparing anything. That is the Gospel. Therefore,
Jesus said that the beautiful act of love of this woman would be told in memory of her
throughout the whole world. Let's love with this same love of Jesus.
Reflection
Questions
1. What stands out to you about the woman's action?
2. What is something like the alabaster jar to you?
3. What stood out to you or what did you learn newly?

Reflection:
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