Beautiful Things.

“Leave her alone,” said Jesus.
       “Why are you bothering her? 
               She has done a beautiful thing to me…“
                                                         Jesus (Mark 14:6+7)

In the accounts of Jesus, the story is told of a young woman who breaks open a very expensive bottle of perfume and pours anoints Jesus with it.

The people watching thought It was an absolute waste. A waste of perfume. A waste of money. A waste of time.

She did not owe it to Jesus. It was not required. The perfume had many other uses. 

So why this waste?

Jesus answer is cuts through the air in its clarity. Her action is beautiful.

The perfume was a true gift of love given to the one who had made this woman believe in herself for the first time in a long time - the one who had caused her to dream again.

It was beautiful because is was not given from requirement,

or payment,

or to plea,

or manipulate Jesus.

The gift was purely given from the overflow and response of a life set free. 

Sometimes when we think about God, we imagine that he is demanding. That God always wants more and more from us. But this story does not fit that narrative. 

Jesus didn’t ask her for this perfume. He didn’t require it. It was not expected from her.

This beautiful, transformed woman gave it in love. 

It was a beautiful gift.

When is the last time we were so moved by what Jesus has done in our lives?