Day 1: Mary's alabaster jar

When I think of Mary pouring out her perfume on the feet of Jesus, I think of the different ways you can 'waste' your love on Him. Ways that might look crazy to anyone else, but He receives as a priceless offering.

Your alabaster jar might be...

• Worship when you're in pain
• Faithfulness when you haven't seen the miracle you've been praying for
• Holding onto a promise when it's taking longer than expected
• Giving away finances when it doesn't make sense
• Spending longer in prayer when there are so many things fighting for your attention
• Quitting the job that gives you security
• Breaking up with the person God is prompting you to
• Moving to another country
• Talking about your faith in front of non-believing friends

One of the things I love about this image of breaking open a jar is that the lid isn't just taken off. There are no 'takebacks' with breaking open the jar. The perfume spilled out can't be put back in the jar.

The second thing I love is that in wiping His feet with the perfume and your hair, you come out smelling just as sweet and powerfully as Jesus. Covered in the fragrance of worship.

When Mary poured her alabaster jar out onto Jesus' feet, Judas was so offended he sold Jesus into death for receiving this 'reckless act of love.' Days later, Jesus knelt and offered the same extravagant action to Judas. Judas was on the receiving end of having someone wipe his feet in an 'inappropriate' act of love, too, but still didn't know how to respond.

When we encounter this kind of love, can we receive it? No matter how illogical, undignified, or insensible it might look? Are golden cathedrals too extravagant? Is moving countries to follow Him too crazy? Is crying in worship too ridiculous? The Lord deserves to have everything poured out, 'wasted' on Him.

Reflection Questions

1. What's the costly perfume that you have available to pour out on the feet of Jesus?
   Whatever it is, He's worth it.
2. Do you ever struggle with judging the ways others pour out their love for Jesus? What does Jesus think of their way of loving Him?