In 24 hours Jesus would be having His Last Supper; but this night was spent relaxing with friends in the home of a healed leper (Mark 14:1-3).  What composure, in the face of agony to come!  It was not unusual at a special dinner for honoured guests to be anointed with fragrant spices by the host: but at some point, it was Mary (sister of Martha and Lazarus) who came in and spilled out all her precious ointment in an act of extravagant devotion.

This is one of two episodes where a woman broke open a container of precious perfume.  On this occasion Mary poured it over Jesus' head, and in Luke 7:36-50, a sinful woman poured perfume over Jesus' feet.  Why should these women have such costly spices?  In those days, spices and salt had lasting monetary-equivalent value (John 12:3).  It was a way of saving for the future.  The most probable explanation is that this was given to a young woman in anticipation of her marriage.  It may have been sealed into an alabaster stone box or in a glass-like vial.  Once the seal was broken and the perfume poured out, it lost its monetary value but conferred a great value of honour on the person who received it.

It was a beautiful act of devotion to Jesus.  But not everybody agreed.  We know that Judas Iscariot was there and that he was one of the first to complain.  John 12:4-6 says, "But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 'Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?  It was worth a year's wages.  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."  Other disciples joined him in rebuking Mary for such a waste of her capital asset.  The smell of selfless devotion mixed with the smell of selfish greed.  But Jesus said that honouring Him, whatever the cost to ourselves, is a natural accompaniment to the gospel (Mark 14:9).

Showing devotion to Jesus is considered foolish by unbelievers. Today, more Christians are suffering, because they love Jesus, than at any time in history.  Derision, harsh words, arrest, torture and execution are all on the same spectrum of abuse against Jesus (2 Timothy 3:12).  And He has personally experienced them all (Psalm 22:12-18).  Mary experienced a sample of opposition at the dinner party.  They were more interested in the buying power of the ointment (dressed as concern for the poor) than using it to honour the soon-to-be-buried Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 14:8).  Ridiculing genuine devotion to Jesus is a Satan-inspired Judas-like jealousy.  It still causes pain in families, the workplace, schools and colleges.  When the sacrifice of time, energy or money for the sake of Jesus is more than the cynical consider as 'reasonable' - the knives are out. But if you love Jesus, as Mary did, do not worry what everybody else thinks; only Jesus’ response matters.