The alabaster box was heavy in her hands as Mary slipped into the room where Jesus was eating dinner with His disciples. The men in the room watched and wondered as they noticed what she carried.
What was Mary up to?
Would she sell the expensive box with its rare perfume and give a generous gift to the Go Fund Me account for the disciples missions trip budget?
Would she tell them what it appraised for and earmark her giving envelope for the charity outreach as Judas suggested?
Would she set it down before the Lord for Him to admire before she took it home with her at the end of the evening?
Without hesitation, she broke the box and began to pour its contents on Jesus’ head –and the disciples’ jaws dropped. They couldnt believe what had just happened. All that money down the drain! They were outraged at such a wasteful gesture. Anger flared up in their faces and spilled from their lips until Jesus turned His face toward them.
“Leave her alone,” He spoke sharply. “She has done something GOOD and BEAUTIFUL to me.”
Mary broke her box and it was the sweet smell of her worship. It filled the entire room. It even followed Jesus as He ate the Passover meal the next day. Her worship wafted up around Him as Judas was plotting and planning His betrayal. The aroma of her worship lingered as He prayed in a garden until His blood became like blood. Even in the midst of loud and abusive roman soldiers, the fragrance of her worship clung to Jesus.
Rough men questioned the wisdom of her gift that night. Heaven judged it perfectly reasonable in light of Who Jesus is and what He was about to do.
Jesus is worthy of all the adoration we can give. Don’t go sparing with your worship. Praise Him lavishly. Praise Him deeply. Praise Him when you must do it alone. Praise Him even if it costs you greatly. Break your box and pour it all on Jesus.
In light of Who He is and what He has done, that is the only reasonable response.
