While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” (Matthew 26:6-9 NIV)
“Is that the new PING driver?”
“No, this is the G425. I have to pay for my equipment now,” quickly jumped out of my mouth. “My driver is only a year old, and spending the money on a new one isn’t worth it yet.”
I think there are three types of golfers. The first golfer knows all about the current clubs and buys the newest driver because it will go straighter and further (supposedly). Another golfer covets the new technology but resists buying because of the cost. The third group cares very little about what is in their bag; their main objective is to merely have fun.
Here’s the scoop. Getting fitted for a good set of clubs is important for better golf and is worth the initial time and monetary investment. If done well, this set will last many seasons, making the cost for the latest and greatest clubs each year unnecessary.
Considering the worth of golf clubs is trivial when compared to bigger issues of life, like the question, “What is Jesus worth?” In our scripture passage above, we find three individuals, the woman with the alabaster jar of expensive perfume; the disciples; and Judas (verse fifteen), who provide useful insight in answering this question.
People in the ancient world stored expensive ointments or perfumes in sealed alabaster jars to keep the contents from evaporating. The ointment likely is the woman’s most prized possession, possibly her dowry or inheritance. It could also have been saved to lavish on a deceased loved one. But here, the woman pours all she has (physically and emotionally) over Jesus.
The disciples are indignant. While their motive is pure (to give the money to help the poor), they missed the opportunity to affirm that Jesus is worthy of this extravagance. Jesus kindly rebukes his disciples while lifting up the woman in front of the judgment in the room.
Further into the story, we learn that Judas, discouraged and disappointed with Jesus, asked the chief priests how much they would give if he handed Jesus over to them (Matthew 26:15). Judas accepted 30 pieces of silver, equivalent to about 100 days wage, as a worthy price for Jesus’ life.
What is Jesus worth to you? Are you like the woman who poured her whole life on Jesus? Or do you resemble a disciple who does good things but holds enough back for security? Does Judas’ frustration with Jesus feel familiar? Are you on the precipice of selling out on Jesus?
How we choose to spend our time, use our possessions, and leverage our influence reflects how much we believe Jesus is worth.
What is Jesus worth to you?
Prayer: Lord, help me consider this question, How much is Jesus worth to me? Convict, mold, and grow me to see that Jesus is worth everything.