Spiked

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume (John 12:3, NIV).

Have you ever done something so outlandish, costly, or extravagant for God that people question the wisdom of what you were doing? John 12:1-8 is an account of just such a thing.

In the previous chapter Jesus had come to Bethany and raised Lazarus from the dead. How do you thank someone for giving you your brother back from the dead? You throw a party celebrating his new life and honoring Jesus for such a rare and miraculous gift! Matthew and Mark tell us that the celebration was held at the home of Simon the Leper (Matthew 26:6, Mark 14:3). More than likely Jesus had healed this man and he was more than glad to host this celebration in Jesus’ honor.

It was customary to bring oil and water to wash the head and feet of guests when they arrived. Mary’s anointing of Jesus’ feet was not unusual but using nard was. Nard (or spikenard) was a perfume. We all know how that works—just a dab here and there is all you need. We have probably all had occasions when we mistakenly used too much, or a jar broke, and how intense the fragrance is when that happens. Mary used more than a dash, more than a splash, more than a handful, she used the entire jar—about 12oz! Can you imagine using an entire soda can of Channel No. 5 on anyone? It is no wonder that John says the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume (John 12:3).

Add to this that nard was not your everyday economic body spray. Nard was an extremely expensive ointment made from the nardostachys jatamansi, a flower which are found up in the Himalayan Mountains. This jar we are told was the equivalent of a year’s wages (John 12:5). To put that in perspective the 2014 US Census found that the average American salary was about $50,000.

So picture Mary, coming over to Jesus and emptying 50 grand of perfume into a bowl and using it to wash Jesus’ feet and then using her hair to dry them off. (In Matthew and Mark’s account she anointed His head as well. That was also customary and certainly there was more than enough of the stuff to do that too). This was astounding, over the top, even frivolous.

It is then not perhaps so amazing to hear that not everybody thought this was a good idea. Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. (John 12:5, NIV).

In John’s account we are told Judas was who spoke up, but in Matthew and Mark’s account it was clear that he was not alone in his reaction. However, Judas’ motive for speaking up negated any redeeming value his question had, no matter how rational it may have seemed to those around. He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. (John 12:6, NIV). His question seemed legitimate, but once you knew his motive you realize how selfish and greedy he was in asking it.

Jesus’ responds in verses 7 and 8, “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “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.” Jesus affirms her and accepted her gift. More than that He did not want to see her judged and criticized for her actions. She did what she was intended to do with it. While caring for the poor was to be a prime focus of His disciples’ ministry always, Jesus Himself would not always be with them. True they would be connected to Him through the Holy Spirit, but the Man Himself would be gone.

Sometimes God asks us to do some crazy stuff. In the previous chapter, He essentially asked people to dig out a dead guy. Here Mary was following what she felt led by God to do to express her love and gratitude and devotion to Jesus. While it looked like a foolish thing to some, it turned out to be the right thing. While Judas’ response seemed reasonable to most it turned out to be from selfish motives and the criticism of her unjust.

If God asks you to do something others feel is too much, too costly, or too irrational, expect to hear from Judas, but be obedient anyway.

If you see someone doing something for God that seems outlandish, or unreasonable and you are tempted to say something, take some time to pray first. Sometimes our rationalizations, justifications, and good sense are really nothing more thinly veiled covers of motives that are less than Christ-like. You don’t want to find yourself in the position where your “good sense” is standing in the way of what God is doing.