A celebratory dinner had been organised in Bethany about three miles outside of Jerusalem.  Jesus had travelled some ten miles from Ephraim in the Judean wilderness northeast of Jerusalem (John 11:54), with His disciples, to be there.  Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, was alive because Jesus had called him out of the tomb (John 11:43-44).  Jesus was the Guest of Honour, Lazarus was at the table (in those days they reclined on low couches or mats, radiating around a low table), his sister Martha served the food and his other sister Mary had planned a special surprise for Jesus.

Mary possessed a sealed container of about half a litre of very special perfume, a fragrant oil from the Nard plant.  During the dinner, Mary broke open the bottle and poured the pungent oil over Jesus' feet, then dried His feet with her hair.  The fragrance filled the house.  It was Mary's way of saying that she was Jesus' servant (only servants touched the feet of guests) and that He was more valuable than the most precious thing she owned. It was her way of worshipping Jesus, Son of God; the Life-giver.  And Jesus interpreted her action as anointing Him with burial spices (John 12:7-8).
 
By contrast, Judas Iscariot, the traitor who would later betray Jesus (John 18:2-3) complained.  He was the treasurer: looking after the money people gave to Jesus, using it to buy food for Jesus’ ministry team, and to give to the poor.  But he was also a thief, helping himself to the money.  All Judas could see was all that very expensive perfume going to waste.  He pretended that it could have been sold and given to the poor.  But he had no real interest in anyone's welfare other than his own.  He did not honour or love Jesus, and was willing to sell Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15).  That is why Judas could estimate the cost of perfume, but not see the value of worship - even when it was right in front of his nose.
 
Mary's sacrifice was Judas' waste.  She gave the most costly thing she had to honour Jesus.  Judas wanted the money for himself.  What a contrast, but both were expressions of worship.  Judas honoured himself but Mary gave of her best to honour the Giver of Life.  Today, God is watching to see who we consider to be the most valuable, ourselves or Him. Romans 12:1 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship."  True worship of God comes from a grateful heart and is expressed in a sacrificial eagerness for the Lord to have the best of what we can give.  Perhaps today's message will help us to reconsider how much we really do love Jesus, or whether our religion is masking our greed and self-pleasure.