Page 19 19 Now we may not physically smell Christ today, but we can spiritually sense His presence among us. And the fragrance of His presence is a mark of the Lord’s nearness. “The house was filled with the fragrance.” As Paul wrote, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him” (2 Corinthians 2:14). 3) Judas regarded Mary’s act to be wasteful. Listen to the protest of Judas. According to the other accounts of this story, the Twelve reacted the same way that Judas did. What did they say? Three words: Why this waste? “Why this waste? You could have helped the poor with this small fortune.” Mary’s stunning act of devotion exposed their hearts. There are few things that are as close to God’s heart as helping the poor and the oppressed. Read your Old Testament. It’s spilling over with God’s concern for the plight of the poor. But as pre-eminently important as caring for the poor is, Jesus Christ Himself is more important. Christ is more important than any ministry, no matter how good or noble. It is possible to worship the god of “ministry” in place of Jesus Christ. This is the second time in Scripture where Mary is being accused. And again, she doesn’t defend herself. Jesus rises to her defense a second time: “Leave her alone,” He says. “She has done a good work upon me.” The Lord was simply saying, “I am worthy. I won’t be with you much longer. So I am worth the value of this perfume.” The disciples regarded it as waste. But it was neither a waste to the Lord nor to Mary. What is waste? It’s giving more than is necessary. What Judas was really saying was, “The Lord isn’t worth it.” The Most Valuable Thing Let me ask you a question: What is the most valuable thing in your life? Besides your loved ones, what is most valuable to you? I’ll tell you what I believe to be the most valuable commodity for most people. It’s something that many of us look back on with regrets. It’s something that many people, especially as they grow older, feel that they have wasted. Do you know what it is? It’s your time. One of the most profound discussions I’ve ever had occurred in Portland, Oregon a few years ago. I held a three-day conference in that city. While I was there, a brother who attended the conference asked to speak to me privately. So we set up a time, and we met after one of the sessions.
Within the covenant structure of the Old Testament the law was an expression of the election and salvation of Israel, not a precondition for it. As a response to God’s acts of deliverance and commitment to provide for His people, obedience to His commands became an outward expression of trust in His promises. Keeping the covenant stipulations is the way God’s people demonstrate that they belong to Him, not a way to become His people.
Scott Hafemann