Mark 14:1-11

Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 "But not during the festival," they said, "or the people may riot."

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.

6 "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

- Mark 14:1-11

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As the annual tradition and important day for the Jews is approaching in two days, Jesus knows his death is coming real soon. At this point, Jesus is surrounded by haters - the chief priests, the teachers of the law, witnesses of the woman pouring the perfume, and Judas. But, the one good character we see here is this woman.

This woman brought this expensive liquid over to the house and poured it on Jesus' head out of love. This perfume from the woman is valued highly as you can see by the people's reactions. It is worth more than a year's wage. This is not just a $100 bill that she is handing over to Jesus. She specially pours this precious gift on Jesus. This woman does this act because she loves Jesus so much and wants to honor him before he is gone. Jesus acknowledges her good deed, something even his disciples would never have done for him. Her actions were so admirable to the point where Jesus knew that she would be included in the Bible.

However, the witnesses say that the perfume is worth so much more than pouring it on Jesus' head and call it a waste. They criticize the woman for just using the perfume like that. What did she do so wrong that she is getting yelled at? After years of Jesus' teachings, love, and friendship, don't you think Jesus deserves recognition and honor?

What we can learn from this woman is that she loves Jesus and Jesus is worth all that. She is devoted to him until the last moment of Jesus' time on earth. We should learn from her and show that kind of love and affection to Jesus as well. After all, he died for us so we can be saved.

Lastly, we learn that Judas, one of Jesus' twelve disciples, Jesus' friend, betrays him. Isn't he so different from the woman? How could someone who spent every day with Jesus betray him like that? Judas' intention for turning his back towards Jesus was greed and selfishness. His eyes were only on that money he wanted from the chief priests. He forgot what he had learned from Jesus all this time. 

Between the woman and Judas, who is more admirable? Is it more satisfying to seek money over showing acts of kindness? Is your time spent learning about Jesus or your offerings to the church a waste to you? Jesus deserves the most for all he has done for us. The least we can do is to love him and honor him. Today, in honor of Jesus, let's resemble this woman and show some act of love and kindness to someone who needs it.