Tonight I spoke around Mark 14:1-11 and called it the waste of worship.
While looking at this, a number of things struck and challenged me.

The extravagant way Mary selflessly cracks open this perfume, that cost a year’s wages, and poured it over Jesus contrasts sharply with the controlled and self interested way in which Judas betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. As an aside, Judas’ fee equates roughly to the fee for a slave. Mary gave her most treasured and expensive possession while Judas sold Jesus for the price of slave.

Judas is one of those bemoaning the great waste of this act of Mary, asking instead why this was not sold and the money given to the poor. Mary seems, however, to have deep understanding of who Jesus is and so is sold out totally for him. Judas just sees to be sold out.

But I can relate to Judas in part. This does seem a waste. A better use would seem to be to sell this and use the money to further the kingdom. What does Mary gain from this? Are we supposed to gain something from worship? Or is worship more about serving Jesus and showing how much we value our relationship? But our waste of time, or money, of activity in this seemingly ungainful act of worship, does seem to mysteriously change us in some way. I guess how much depends on what we will invest of ourselves.

Judas had his price, and in an elaborate way Mary shows hers, or maybe she doesn’t have a price as such. Her price is ‘whatever I have’.

This has challenged me to ask how much Jesus is worth to me, or rather …
What is my price?