[ Matthew 26:6–16, Mark 14:3–11, Luke 22:3–6 ]

A woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. (Matthew 26:7)

Jesus’ final days have dwindled down to two. He’s in the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in the town of Bethany just outside of Jerusalem. After the previous, few, action-packed days, Jesus gathers quietly with his most intimate friends on the Wednesday before his death. There is calm for a moment, but the dramatic tension hangs heavy in the background. The King has arrived and publicly challenged those in power. One of the sides must give way. 

As has happened throughout his life, Jesus is being both adored by some while being plotted against by others. One woman recognizes the infinite worth of the Savior of the world and pours out her most costly possession in worship. Another, a supposed friend of Jesus, schemes in the shadows, seeking to bring about Jesus’ demise. How they see and value Jesus orients how they see and value everything else in life. The woman sees the immeasurable preciousness of Jesus more clearly than anyone else in the room and knows that no cost is too high to pay for Jesus. The betrayer, with no eyes for Jesus, discards him for a pittance.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you have lavished on us the most precious and valuable gift in the universe in sending your Son Jesus to us. And yet, our eyes are so often drawn away from Jesus to lesser things. Give us eyes to see Jesus rightly as worthy of our highest affections and deepest devotion. We ask in the precious name of Jesus, Amen.