The Jar
Jesus, as I join You today on Your journey to the cross, prepare my heart to participate with You in the dark shadows of Good Friday and the bright dawn of Easter Sunday.
Pause and pray
It is four days before Jesus’ death. He is relaxing in Bethany, just outside Jerusalem. Something shocking and prophetic is about to take place.
Read: Matthew 26:6–13
The perfume poured out on Jesus’ head in this story was astoundingly precious; made, according to the Gospels of Mark and John, from pure nard, which comes from a plant that only grows in the Himalayas. It had travelled 3,500 miles, and it was worth 300 denarii – a year’s wages – and yet it was all emptied out upon Jesus’ head. The extravagance is breathtaking. The whole house was filled with its fragrance. Jesus’ body may still have been carrying hints of this very scent upon the cross.
What is the most valuable thing I could pour out upon Jesus today? Is He inviting me to waste some of my precious time in worship, or to relinquish a particular relationship, or to surrender something I own – in order to demonstrate my love for him?
Pause and pray
When the disciples were discussing how to feed the five thousand people, Philip pointed out that it would cost more than 200 denarii to do so. This little jar of perfume worth 300 denarii could have fed more than five thousand people. No wonder the disciples were indignant and said that it could have fed the poor.
Does my passion for justice and my desire for results sometimes make worship seem self-indulgent? How might I waste a little money, efficiency, or credibility for Christ’s glory today?
Pause and pray
We often talk about Jesus anointing us to do great things, but in this story, we see that we can anoint Jesus too. The name Jesus Christ literally means Jesus the ‘anointed one’. As we begin this journey towards Easter, let us anoint Him as our Christ with the costly sacrifice of exorbitant gratitude.
Jesus, I love You with all my heart, all my soul and all my strength. But I’m sorry that, so often I give You the least of my time, the last of my money, and the leftovers of my worship. This week, I want to pour the best of myself out for You, knowing that You will soon pour out Your very life for me.
Amen.
One of the most striking aspects of the anointing at Bethany is how it challenges our own ideas about value and sacrifice. The woman who poured the expensive nard on Jesus didn't hesitate to use something worth a year's wages, fully aware that it was a costly and seemingly wasteful act. This story invites us to examine what we, too, might be holding back from fully giving to Jesus. From personal experience, engaging deeply with this passage encourages a shift from a mindset of practicality and efficiency towards one of heartfelt worship and extravagant generosity. The disciples' indignation that the perfume could have been sold to feed the poor reflects a common tension between serving practical needs and honoring God with our devotion. Yet Jesus’ response reminds us that there is a time and place for both, and that worship can itself be an offering that honors God’s coming sacrifice. Moreover, understanding that the name Jesus Christ means 'the anointed one' adds profound significance to this act. Anointing Jesus with costly perfume is also a recognition of His divine mission and the imminent sacrifice He would make. It invites us to anoint Him in our hearts as Lord and Savior, with all the devotion and gratitude we can muster. Incorporating this story into our spiritual practices during Holy Week can transform how we approach worship and sacrifice. Rather than simply following rituals, we can seek to pour out our best—our time, our resources, and our hearts—in a manner that reflects the true cost and love demonstrated on the cross. This reflection has personally helped me to reconsider how I offer my own worship and charity. It’s not always about measuring the tangible outcomes but embracing the spirit of giving wholeheartedly even when it seems extravagant or inefficient. Ultimately, it cultivates a closer, more authentic relationship with Jesus in the shadow of the cross and the hope of the resurrection.
AMEN BLESSED BE GLORY TO GOD 🙌🏻😇