John 12:5

New International Version (NIV)

Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.

For meditation

A tragedy of life! All of us have been victims of the comments people make about our actions, or the poisonous impressions they create, which dampen our spirits and rob us of the joy of doing good. Whether such comments were perfunctory or intentional does not matter. They do the harm anyhow. But the real casualties are the number of people who get deprived of such kindness when they really need it. Only God knows how many people have missed lifetime opportunities this way. Judas’ selfish condemnation of Mary’s kind act to Jesus illustrates this tragedy so well.

The scene is Simon the Leper’s house where Jesus is honored with a dinner (Mk. 14:1-11; Jn. 12:1-8). Lazarus is reclining at table with Jesus and Martha, his sister, is serving. Mary makes her way to Jesus’s feet with a pint of pure nard in an alabaster jar. She pours all of it on the Master’s feet and wipes Jesus’ feet with her hair. The fragrance of the expensive perfume fills the house, but the real fragrance is Mary’s love and gratitude to Jesus. The glances speak for themselves and the throat-clearing reveals enough.

“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages,” Judas said (Jn. 12:5).

But the Master would have none of it.

“Leave her alone … It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me” (7-8).

It’s amazing. People will be what they want to be, regardless of what one does or does not do . They will talk when you don’t do something about a situation, and they will criticize when you do. The real motive for their intervention is usually hidden and is selfish, therefore you   should not hang your actions on people’s comments and impressions or allow them to hijack your goodness and kindness. You have God to glorify and your neighbor to bless.

Thank God Mary knew what she wanted and went for it. Her heart overflowed with love and thankfulness to her Lord. She offered profusely to the One who had been so good to her, and Jesus loved it. In the same way, He waits for the outpouring of our hearts to Him daily. He takes notice, regardless of the noises around.

So, go ahead and do what you have in your heart for the Lord and the person He has put on your heart to bless. You may do something profound and beyond yourself; with a purpose you don’t even know. More than that; it may be the opportunity of a lifetime, as Jesus said of Mary’s offering (7-8).

Shalom