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DAY THREE: EXTRAVAGANT JESUS

Extravagance usually isn’t a word closely would associate with Christianity. Often it is the opposite, as Christians we may take a vow of poverty, commit to doing without for a season of fasting, and living sacrificially. It would be unbelievable to hear people taking a vow of extravagance in their lives as Christians! 

For many of us, living for God means living sacrificially. That sacrificial mentality was meant to govern our habits and the way we live, it was never meant to curtail the way we give or how we experience the fullness of God. Jesus didn’t have a problem with extravagance, in fact every time we read about Jesus serving humanity, we read about his extravagant provision.  Jesus’ first miracle was making sure a wedding feast had an abundance of the best wine, at least twice he provided an incredible banquet for thousands with plenty of leftovers— He made sure there was a treasury and that it was used to feed the poor. Jesus’s extravagance is evident in the way the Father has lavished us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. 

Biblical extravagance isn’t something we strive to live in, it is something we get to give. Mary, the sister of Martha, brings an extravagant gift to Jesus. She brings it, not because she has nothing else to offer, but because it is the thing that carries the most extravagant expression of who she is. Mary’s offering was an alabaster box of pure nard. An expensive perfume that most theologians believe would have been her dowry. Jesus doesn’t mock her for this extravagant outpouring, although everyone else is judging her for this “waste.” Jesus accepts her extravagant gift, He celebrated Mary’s devotion. Mary held nothing back in her offering, her lavish display of devotion, she gave everything of value to her in that moment. Mary likely didn’t fully understand that what she was doing was preparation for the cross. Jesus did. Jesus includes this extravagant moment in the forever recounting of the story of the cross. An accompaniment to the salvation and redemption of mankind... is an extravagant offering. 

When we bring our best, our most treasured, our hardest earned, our brightest gift to God it is never wasted, our gifts are accepted for the revelation that they are. The gift we bring to God is the revelation that our hearts are all in, our lives are completely surrendered, and that we are holding nothing back. Our gift brings the best of ourselves to the feet of Jesus. When we bring our best offering to Jesus, He doesn’t scorn it, or ridicule us, He accepts it as we are bringing God the best of ourselves. 

“I promise you that as this wonderful gospel spreads all over the world, the story of her lavish devotion to me will also be mentioned in memory of her.””

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Is there an area of your heart or your life that you have been keeping safe, an area that God wants you to pour out in extravagant devotion to Him?

Mary had to push past many cultural barriers in this moment, but she did it anyway. 

What do you need to offer to your God that may cause others to mock you, or tell you not to “waste” your time, your talent or your treasures in the house of God?