Undignified

What if it IS True? Blog

Discovering, wrestling with, and trying like crazy to live Gospel virtue.

04/14/14

John 12:1-11

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany,
where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served,
while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.
Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil
made from genuine aromatic nard
and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair;
the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples,
and the one who would betray him, said,
“Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages
and given to the poor?”
He said this not because he cared about the poor
but because he was a thief and held the money bag
and used to steal the contributions.
So Jesus said, “Leave her alone.
Let her keep this for the day of my burial.
You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came,
not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus,
whom he had raised from the dead.
And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too,
because many of the Jews were turning away
and believing in Jesus because of him.

What's really important to us? I think that's what this episode is all about. Judas had his priorities and his priorities were obviously not in line with Jesus. We've talked before about the litmus test. Unfortunately we delude ourselves to the point that we can think our way is God's way when we are in reality totally opposite.

I like the fact that Mary's actions here were illogical, lavish and scandalous. We might have sinful desires at times that could match up to those criteria, but how often is our praise in these categories. We might get excited about sporting events. We certainly know this well in Lexington, KY after our recent run in the NCAA tournament, but can we muster the same enthusiasm for God? We probably won't ever burn a couch on the street corner in praise. Maybe that's not a bad thing. But I hope you get the point.

There's a fun Praise and Worship song by David Crowder called Undignified. It's about offering praise in ways that might not look dignified. Mary's behavior was not that of dignity. It wasn't even that of a slave. No one would have been expected to do what she did unless they were enduring some sort of punishment or abuse. But this was her heart. This was what she was led to give to Jesus. And beautifully, he accepted it. What are you willing to offer? A year's wage? What about everything?

Good luck and God bless,

Leo Brown