PrintToday's "Moment with Mark" (81)
10 February, 2013
During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume. She broke the seal and poured the perfume over his head. Some of those at the table were indignant. "Why was this expensive perfume wasted?" they asked. "She could have sold it for a small fortune and given the money to the poor!" And they scolded her harshly. ( Mark14:3-5)
A few days ago I made the observation that Kingdom economics are vastly different from the kingdom dynamics of this world. That ought not to surprise us given that the respective kings hold to values that are absolutely and diametrically opposed. In this reading, a woman holding a small vase of expensive perfume comes to Jesus and begins to anoint His head with the contents of the vase.
There would be, no doubt, many reactions among the diners that evening in the home of Simon, the leper. Two of them stand out. Criticism of the woman was swift and decisive. It's John who identifies Judas (John chp.12) as present at the meal and who represented the economy of the world. - an economy that is totally self-centred, past the point of no return. Despite his hypocritical stance on behalf of the poor, his real interest was in lining his own pockets.
Mary finds herself in a hostile environment. She has taken that which cost here everything and lavishly, extravagantly, wastefully (according to Judas) poured out the contents of the vase as an offering to her Lord, knowing what will soon be done to Him.
In the midst of the criticism, there is one voice that speaks for her. It is the only voice that counts really. It was Jesus.
"Leave her alone. Why berate her for doing such a good thing to me? (Mark 14:6-7 NLT)
In our endeavours to be true and faithful to our God and Saviour, there will always be two voices to be heard. One is the voice of Judas who will always criticise our dedication. The other voice is that of Jesus who speaks words of affirmation and understanding.
To which one shall we listen?
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