John 12 The Extravagant Gift The commercials have already started and both their frequency and their “not-so-subtle” messages will only intensify in the next month and a half. The retail giants have paid ad agencies big dollars to help them get the jump and reach for the black long before “Black Friday.” ‘Tis the season of the extravagant gift. You know the commercials I’m talking about. The fireplace is perfectly fueled and the flames fill the room with their warm glow (don’t worry the array of manufactured lights just out of the camera’s viewfinder). The beautiful woman with flawless make up feigns surprise on take #38 as the jeweler’s box is opened and the light reflects from the diamond in perfect fashion. The well-groomed man with perfectly whitened teeth awaits the scripted reaction at the precise moment. The message - because of this extravagant gift, their love will last an eternity (even if they are drowning in debt and the credit card interest on this purchase will last a lifetime as well). The alternate version of this commercial (which I happen to prefer) is where the woman who sleeps in full make-up and perfectly coordinated pj’s and matching robe, leads her model worthy “guy” down the stairs of their estate and outside to the front drive to see a massive bow placed strategically on top of a vehicle that only costs slightly more than the average yearly income of the U.S. household. Once again the extravagant gift has come to the rescue to assure the couple everlasting love and happiness. By now, you’ve gone to fetch your “bah humbug” label to hang it on me. But instead of writing the jewelry and luxury auto conglomerates to send me the ghosts of Christmas past, present or future my way, can we just get back to John 12 instead? Instead of me complaining about commercials, you have Judas complaining about what he considered to be an overly extravagant gift that Mary gave Jesus in Bethany. That night, Mary took that jar of pure nard – a very expensive perfume (which did happen to equal the average yearly income of a person in that part of the world) and pour it over the feet of the Savior. The aroma had to have filled that room and Mary – in a sign of worship and adoration - proceeds to dry Jesus’ feet with her own hair. In the background of this beautiful scene was a grumbling voice – with words spoken just above a whisper – but loud enough to be heard. “What is she doing? This jar of expensive perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor.” The fact that Judas was a thief was second to the complaint that Jesus responded to as he said: “Leave her alone. It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” It is in these words of Jesus that we see first of all that He valued the love of Mary’s heart more than the gift itself. But second He points us to the true extravagant gift that is at the center of this room and this chapter. It isn’t the perfume that had filled that jar. It was the life that would be given for Mary, her sister and brother, and every one of us. Jesus is the true extravagant gift – given by the Father out of love. So what will we do? Grumble about the extravagance? Or will we lift up praises to the Giver of His life?
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 14:43:52 +0000
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