Are Extravagant Gifts OK?

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.