“Why this waste?” Matthew 26:8, Mark 14:4, John 12:5 all ask this same question in one form or another regarding the lavish anointing of Jesus’ feet by a woman/Mary. And, Luke 7 also records a negative response to this act as well, saying if Jesus was a prophet He would have known her storied and sinful past .
She carries an alabaster box into the room. Breaks it open, filling the room with an incredible scent and wonderful fragrance. Lavishly pouring its content, an oil of perfume worth a year’s income for just 12 oz, on Jesus. And then, as His humble servant, cleansing his feet with it and wiping it and them with her hair… her glory on his feet. (Some say she anointed His head, having it run to His feet, as Jesus indicated she anointed His body for burial).
The men/disciples around her are shocked, rocked, and offended by her action. But, perhaps even more so astonished and offended that Jesus accepted such a passionate and lavish expression of love. Particularly from one known for her sin (according to the Luke account, Note: some assert there may have been two incidents).
Either way, it happened and is recorded in all four gospels. And Matthew and Mark say she will be remembered for it wherever the gospel is carried.
Keep in mind this box represents a life’s savings. In our terms, it is a retirement fund, a 401K. It’s security, a full savings account. It is a treasure laid up for a secure future. And she lavishly pours it out completely in one event, “wasting it”, on Him.
Jesus does not rebuke her! In fact, in most of these accounts, He defends her actions.
I believe there are many lessons here in this incident. I believe there is a picture here of us giving all that we have, and all that we are, for all that He is in worship and service. But let me focus on one in particular in what follows.
May I first ask here, leading to what I truly think is indicated, Why do we gather? Why do we come together in His name? Is it not for us to lavishly waste ourselves in worshiping Him, by ministering to His body, that is ….one another, as the church/ekklesia which is His body the fullness of Him that fills all in all? (Ephesians 1:22-23)
Are you willing to break the alabaster box, whatever He has given you, that you hold so dear to yourself and lavishly “waste” it in service to those in His body? Or, will you simply “go to church” and fulfill your religious duty, and sit in judgment of those who make such wasteful commitments?
God delivers precious oil to your hands in a precious treasure with costly fragrance released when broken and shared and lavished upon Him and poured on His body in others who have need of cleansing and ministry because of the dusty road and world they have traveled. He is not concerned with others calling your pouring treasure out on others “waste” or telling you that “you are wasting your life and resources.”
People, family, even brothers and sisters in the faith will say…“Why do you give yourself to those people and that cause?” “Why sacrifice for them?” “That little church… that house church group.. it doesn’t even look like a real church, no building, no staff…. you’re wasting your time and resources with little to no impact! Just join a big church and go once in a while. Tithe if you must. Otherwise invest yourself in career, family, entertainment and enjoying life!” “Why this waste?”
What is done to minister to and anoint Jesus’ Body is never wasted. Even when He is buried in the ground as a seeming waste, He rises up and brings forth much fruit. You see, He has an unending supply of boxes and oil to refill your hands with as you walk with Him and experience life in Him. In fact I exhort you to “waste” yourself in ministry to Him and to others in His body. Share the fragrance of His life. In fact I believe the Lord is looking for us to “waste” ourselves on each other and provoking one another to love and service. And, in so doing, provoking the world around us to jealousy at how we serve and love.
He has given us all an alabaster box (really boxes) and He is looking for us to spill forth its fragrance lavishly. Are you willing to turn over your most valuable treasure in ministering to His body, and using your glory to cleanse even His feet? Even if others judge it as “waste”?
Nobody can force you to, and He will not demand it of you by intimidation. But, He may check on your stewardship of His gifts occasionally. But, only you may freely give it to Him out of passionate love and obedience as you draw near to Him in others.
This is, at least in part, why we gather. Bring you costly fragrance and share the unsearchable value and beautiful fragrance of of what He has given you.
[Ephesians 5:1-2 NASB95] – 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
[2Corinthians 2:14-16 NASB95] – 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?