Wasted?

Jesus has six days left before the big trial, so He goes back to the Bethany retreat house. And this place is overflowing with gratefulness. The sister Martha serves supper, newly resurrected Lazarus reclines at the table, and Mary - well she's acting strange. She takes a whole pound of this amazingly expensive perfume and pours it out on Jesus' feet. As she wipes the oil-crusted feet with her hair, the whole house is shocked by the sweet smell. (John 11:45 - 12:8)

Greedy Judas can't keep quiet and blasts her for not using that $50,000 for the poor. But Jesus says: "Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me."

They all probably wonder what He's talking about. But we can see that Mary is the only one who gets to anoint Jesus' body for burial. His death is imminent. And the other women who came on Sunday morning are too late. He's alive!

So this grateful Mary's "waste" is showing our Lord honor and love in a way no one else can. We all have a unique opportunity to love and honor Him. Let's do it today!