Filling Up to Pour Out + “Give? or Get?”
Give? or Get?
This morning, as I was reading Matthew 26, I was struck by the beauty of the offering lavished on Jesus in v.7:
“There came unto Him a woman having an alabaster box of VERY PRECIOUS ointment, and poured it on His head, as He sat at meat.” The disciples call it a waste, but Jesus commends her on several levels…what was a waste to others was called a good work to Him. (v.10). He says, “She did it for my burial,” (v.12) and proclaims that because of her sacrificial, fragrant, potentially scandalous generosity she will be memorialized forever. He states that her story of this shocking moment would be told always: “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached IN THE WHOLE WORLD, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.” That’s pretty incredible…I’ve heard many a sermon on this story and have personally written about it many times. This is fulfillment of Jesus’ words regarding her unashamed, unabashed, unhindered, unapologetic offering. Her pouring out of what was “very precious” was noticed and noted by Heaven. FOREVER MEMORIALIZED. This reminds me today of the fact that Jesus sees sacrifice so differently than other onlookers. Other people will mistake your sacrifice, whatever it may be, for ridiculous fanaticism, but to Jesus, it is a GOOD WORK and He will mark it down and never forget.
Today, what struck me is not only the woman’s generosity, but, as I continued on in the chapter, I was shocked to notice the contrast between her generosity and Judas’ greed. Immediately after Jesus states it will be told “for a memorial of her,” the Bible continues with: “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, ‘WHAT WILL YOU GIVE ME, and I will deliver Him unto you?’” And they covenanted with him for 30 pieces of silver. And from that time, “he sought opportunity to betray him.” WOOOOOOOW!!
I have done a (little) “Google research”, and looked into the value of Mary’s box and value of Judas 30 pieces of sliver. The alabaster box of “very precious” ointment that was broken and given so freely was worth anywhere from $10,000 - $54,000 in current US currency. The value of Judas silver was valued at $172 - $3,000. She GAVE many times over what Judas GOT. She did not think twice. She asked what she could GIVE, and thought of her most precious treasure. It probably, according to many writers, equated to her life’s savings and was probably the defining symbol of her identity, yet she lavished it ALL on Jesus. The box was broken…there was no going back or second-guessing. She was all in and cared not whether she was giving up security and financial stability or marks of identity. This was WHAT SHE HAD TO GIVE and she gave it with reckless, shameless abandon. the Bible says “she poured it…” This was not a drop or a trickle or a stream, but this was every last bit of what she had POURED OUT on the One Who had changed her life.
Judas asked what he could GET, and was given an opportunity to betray his “friend” for 30 pieces of silver, a mere fraction of what she gave. The Word stated “from that time, he sought opportunity to betray” Jesus. (26:16) It is TRAGIC to note that, in the end, Judas ended up with NOTHING. In the garden, he betrays Jesus with a false kiss, and as the chief priests and elders make plans for Jesus’ death and tie him up to lead Him away, Judas begins to have second thoughts. The 30 pieces of silver he gained don’t seem nearly as valuable as they did a few hours ago. The silver is tarnished and the weight of his actions hang around his neck. “Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought again THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood. And they said, “‘What is that to us? See thou to that.’ AND HE CAST DOWN THE PEICES OF SILVER IN THE TEMPLE, and departed, and went and hanged himself.” (Matt 27:3-5). He asked what he could get and his “gain” was lost and became a hangman’s noose. His greed and self-seeking saw his life end unnecessarily in tragedy and his name go down in infamy.
She asked what she could GIVE, and gave what was “very precious”. He asked what he could get, and momentarily gained a little bag of coins. She asked what she could give, and her name was forever memorialized. He asked what he could get, and his name was forever infamized.
They both “walked” closely with Jesus…one was near Him to GIVE and one was near Him to GET. Two approaches to Jesus…”
WHAT CAN I POUR OUT FOR YOU?”
“WHAT CAN I GET FROM YOU?”
Generosity or greed?
WHAT WILL DEFINE MY DAYS?
“Give what thou hast from thy little store,
And from his endless bounty, God will give thee more.”
—Author Unknown
FOR A FULL LIFE, POUR OUT.