The best for Jesus -  29 March 2010

As we move through Holy Week we will look at some of the events in Jesus life during the week before his crucifixion, and use them to help reflect on what being a follower of Jesus might mean for us.

“While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.” Mark 14:3-6 [NIV]

Some present were indignant that so much had been poured out over Jesus, in another of the gospel accounts this act was the final straw for Judas; how do we see it? Jesus goes on to talk of the fact that he would not be with them for much longer and that this act was a preparation for his impending burial. The woman had poured out the best for Jesus, a jar of perfume costing the equivalent of more than a year’s wages poured out just for him; because, to paraphrase a modern day advertiser, ‘he’s worth it!’

Jesus is the King of Kings, our Redeemer and our Saviour, he deserves from us the very best that we can give. Would we take something that was worth more than a year of our wages and just pour it out for Jesus, with no benefit to ourselves? Do we in fact give Jesus the ‘best’ of anything that we have; our time, our energy, our money and possessions?  What does that say about where Jesus is on our list of priorities?

Take time during this day to imagine that you were present at the scene described, and ponder these questions and ask Jesus to show what it might mean for us, and what we might need to do to show Jesus that he really is worth it. Is now the time to move Jesus up to the top of our priority list? After all, what have we really got to lose?

Amen