Day 16
“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. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.”
The woman broke her jar and poured out all of her perfume. She lavishly wasted everything that was of value to her. Breaking her jar effectively eliminated any chance of keeping any for her own use, then or later. She gave everything she had-past, present, and future-to him. Jesus goes on to say that people would remember her remarkable love forever. And later in this chapter at the last supper, those same words appeared again. He broke his body and poured out his blood for us. This time when you read Jesus saying, "Do this in remembrance of me," don't just picture crackers and grape juice. See communion as a picture of what it calls us to. He was beckoning us to do what he did: be broken and poured out. Go all in. Hold nothing in reserve. Completely relinquish control. That's what would truly commemorate what Jesus did. Not cherishing a ritual, but being a memorial. What should "broken and poured out" look like in your life?