Mark 14:6-11: a reflection

6But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me. 7For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you can do them good; but you will not always have me. 8She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying. 9Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News may be preached throughout the whole world, that which this woman has done will also be spoken of for a memorial of her.” 10Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests, that he might deliver him to them. 11They, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. He sought how he might conveniently deliver him.

A woman pours costly perfume over Jesus, and when some criticize the extravagance, Jesus defends her warmly: Leave her alone; she has done a good work for me. She has done what she could, he says; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And he promises that wherever the gospel is preached, what she has done will be told in memory of her. Her act of extravagant devotion, done with what she had, is received and honored by Jesus, even as, in the next breath, Judas goes off to betray him.

Notice the words Jesus uses of her: she has done what she could. He does not say she did something great or impressive, but that she did what she could, poured out what she had in love for him. That was enough, and more than enough; Jesus received her devotion and honored it forever. Her gift was extravagant, but its real worth was the love behind it, the giving of what she had, done for him. And it stands in sharp contrast to Judas, who in the same moment was bargaining to betray.

That is an encouragement about our own devotion to Christ. We may feel that what we can offer him is small, unimpressive, not worth much; but Jesus does not ask for what we do not have. He honors the one who does what she could, who pours out in love the little she has. Do not withhold your devotion to Christ because it seems small or unimpressive; offer him what you can, as this woman did, and know that he receives and honors the love behind it. She did what she could, and Jesus honored it forever; do what you can for him, pouring out in love what you have, and trust that he receives your devotion as he received hers, not despising the small gift given in great love.

Lord Jesus, when a woman poured costly perfume over you and some criticized the extravagance, you defended her: she has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial, and wherever the gospel is preached, what she did will be told in memory of her. Encourage me about my own devotion to you. I may feel that what I can offer you is small, unimpressive, not worth much; but you do not ask for what I do not have. You honor the one who does what she could, who pours out in love the little she has. Keep me from withholding my devotion to you because it seems small or unimpressive; help me offer you what I can, as this woman did, and know that you receive and honor the love behind it. She did what she could, and you honored it forever; help me do what I can for you, pouring out in love what I have, and trust that you receive my devotion as you received hers, not despising the small gift given in great love. I offer you what I can, Lord; receive it in love.