Scripture:

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me." (John 12:1-8 ESV)

Observation:

The ointment that Mary poured out on Jesus' feet and wiped with her hair was worth about a year's salary according to the numbers. On one hand, like Judas, we can understand that such an act seems rather excessive for someone's feet. Jesus rightly says, however, that she has annointed him for the day of his burial.

Application:

Whenever you talk to Christians about how they spend their money, they get uncomfortable and squeamish. So, I will just ask one question:

If spending one year's salary on foot perfume for Jesus' death was justified and seen as a beautiful thing, how much more wonderful and necessary is spending money to bring fame to him now that he has risen from the dead and ascended into glory?