Paul quotes Jesus in the book of Acts as stating, “It is more
blessed to give than to receive.” Many of us have become fixated on the giving
end of the spectrum. However, there is a symbiotic relationship at work here making
it impossible to give a gift unless there is also a receiver of the gift. So
there must also be some honor is receiving gifts, and it is, in fact, necessary
if the giver is to be able to receive a blessing.
One week prior to his death, Jesus was allowed to model for us the
receiving end of that spectrum. A feast was held in honor of Jesus at the home
of a Pharisee, Simon, whom Jesus had healed of leprosy. Both Jesus and Lazarus
were in attendance and many from Jerusalem came to see both, perhaps even
hoping to hear Lazarus speak of his resurrection experience. Yet this was not to
be the excitement that unfolded on this night.
Instead, echoing a meal served in the home of Martha, Lazarus’
sister, we again find Martha buzzing in serving and Mary at the feet of her Jesus.
Jesus, who had brought her brother back to life, back into her arms. Clearly
Mary had premeditated what kind of gift she could offer to Jesus in light of
all he had come to mean to her. And thank goodness that on this evening, unlike
the meal in her home, Martha didn’t chastise Jesus for allowing Mary to shirk
her duties and sit at his feet. For here, in this poignant moment that glows in
time, Jesus modeled how to graciously receive the most extravagant of gifts.
“A woman in
that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the
Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she
stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.”
(Luke 7:37-38)
“Here a
dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those
reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an
expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her
hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 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. “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should
save this perfume for the day of my burial” (John 12:2-7)
The jar of perfume, or the nard oil from the flowering plant,
Valerian, is estimated to have been somewhere between 10-16 ounces. And what
Mary would have paid for it then was worth approximately $3,000 today. So, in today’s
dollar amounts the worth of what was given was somewhere between $30,000 and
$48,000. Most of us won’t spend that kind of money in one setting on anything
other than our own personal home and it is unlikely we will ever be able to spend
that kind of money on a gift for someone else (though how wonderful if it could
be!).
Now, in my mind, to picture 10 – 16 ounces, I see an entire 12 ounce
soda can of that oil being poured onto Jesus. Primarily his feet are mentioned,
but his head is also mentioned in one passage (this scene is portrayed in all
four gospels). Imagine the aroma of so much perfume! We choke and say, “Did you
bathe in it?” to anyone who violates our nasal space with an overabundance of
aroma, but I dare say even they hadn’t actually used an entire jar of oil as
Mary did on Jesus that evening! Why yes, he did bathe in it. Or rather, he
allowed her to bathe him in it, and it was even mixed with her very own tears.
She ministered to him in reckless abandon. And herein I do believe we observe that
the only place we are safe to live in reckless abandon is in His presence. He
didn’t shame her, “Not here. Not now. Why are you doing this?” No, just the
opposite is actually true. He defended her, “Leave her alone.” You see,
reckless abandon itself is protected when it is fully expressed through
alignment with His Spirit and in His presence.
How would you feel is someone offered you such a gift? Many of us were
raised to respectfully convey, “No, I couldn’t possibly accept this; It is
simply too much.” Yet, that is not at all the response modeled by Jesus.
Instead, he is observed being still. He allows Mary to both deliver and
administer the gift. There is no shame correlated with the receiving of this extravagant
gift. His posture was only to be still. His only action was in being willing to
receive. In fact, on that night, one week prior to his crucifixion, I believe
Jesus was modeling how to receive the most extravagant of gifts as God was
preparing Jesus to be just that for us. God was eagerly awaiting the delivery
of His extravagant grace as poured out upon us through the blood of His own son’s
torturous death on the cross.
Have you bathed in it? Rather, have you allowed Him to bathe you in
it? Do you realize that the gift He is offering is mixed with His very own
tears? And have you then been able to graciously receive the most extravagant
of gifts ever offered? If not, He is waiting in love to do just that. And if
you have, He is waiting with a bottomless supply to make your life ever
fragrant, ever an offering to Him. Simply be still and receive.
