Extravagant Love



A week before Jesus' final Passover meal shared with His friends and followers, he was eating a meal with his friend Lazarus in Bethany. His sisters were Mary and Martha as you might already know. One of them, Mary, did something extravagant and maybe a little scandalous (thanks to John for recording her name in John 12).


What was it? Mary took some expensive perfume (like a year's salary worth!) and poured it on Jesus' feet (and likely His head) and then wiped His feet with her hair - whoa! This was recorded by Matthew (26) and Mark (14) as well - why? I'm sure it was a story too powerful for them not to share, right?

Not everyone was happy - typical. No good deed goes...well, you know...

Anyway, Mary's work of love and devotion to Jesus is awe-inspiring and well, just plain extravagant! She sacrifices clearly one of her most precious possessions and uses her hair, another of her special possessions to do something BIG for Messiah Jesus, Her Lord.

Then, in just a few days, Jesus Himself will offer the MOST extravagant work of love on an old rugged cross.

As we wade through the power of this week, aka 'holy week', may we too be moved to extravagant love for Jesus and for those we call our neighbors.

Photo by Nolan Kent on Unsplash

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