Extravagant Love

Meditation for the Fifth Sunday in Lent

Isaiah 43: 16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3: 4b-14; John 12: 1-8

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  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.  You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.” (John 12: 1-8)

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You will always have the poor among you

Often when this lesson is the subject of a sermon or Bible study, the discussion centers on economic and political issues around wealth and poverty. Judas's question often becomes our question. Why wasn't the money used to purchase this perfume given to the poor? For many Christians (and non-Christians for that matter!) this is a legitimate question!

Yet, Jesus's reply to Judas seems almost cruel -- "You will always have the poor among you."

Wasn't Jesus the one that constantly berated the Pharisees and scribes and other leaders for their wealth., Wasn't he often critical of their extravagant lifestyles?

So then we start to tie ourselves into rhetorical knots trying to explain away Jesus's seemingly callous reaction to poverty.

There's just one problem with this way of trying to understand this story. This story is not about the ethics or politics of poverty.

But is IS about extravagance!

An Extravagant Love

This is a story about love,. extravagant love.

Remember, earlier in his Gospel, John proclaimed that

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3: 16)

While it may have been wasteful (almost criminally so!) for Mary to use that perfume to wash Jesus's feet and hair that evening, it was, nevertheless, an act of extravagant love.

Just a day before his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and just hours away from his betrayal by Judas (who Jesus apparently trusted with the group's finances!), Mary was trying to make Jesus comfortable. No doubt the coolness of the oily perfume and the beautiful fragrance was meant to give Jesus a respite from his relentless trek to the cross. It was an act of almost primal love, of elemental kindness.

As extravagant as was the gift of a year's worth of wages for a little physical comfort, it was even more outrageously extravagant when we learn that the perfume had been intended for Jesus's burial.!

What a waste! Now even more perfume must be purchased!

But Jesus turns to Judas and, probably in a soft voice, simply replied,:

“Leave her alone, It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.  You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

Jesus doesn't try to explain away Mary's extravagant kindness. In fact, he points out the extraordinary fact that she was even wasting the very perfume that would soon be needed for his burial!

His point was that this would be one of the last times anyone could show love for Jesus while he was alive. and wasn't that the whole point of his life and ministry -- for God so loved the world. . .

This near the end of his earthly life, Jesus's constant call for love crescendos in this poignant moment of loving kindness. God's extravagant gift of his Son should be met with extravagantly thankful hearts and with extravagantly kind gestures.

Just as Jesus accepted the ultimate cost of his own life for our sakes, our first concern is not to count the cost of our love, but to lavish others with our love.

Jesus's constant reminder that, when in doubt, love, becomes, when you love, be prepared to love unconditionally.

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It Is an Extravagant Love

There are no bounds

No rationalizations

Nor logic or common sense

No conditions

Not for the sake of anything but itself

Not to be judged but accomplished

Fulfilled

Extravagant

Even unwieldy

Not to be managed

Or controlled

To be done

No excuses

Love