Value is an interesting concept.  People value the things that are most important to them.  That’s why it is often said that you can tell what is most important to people by looking at how their money is spent or where their time goes.  Such is the case with the story found in John 12. Let’s look at it together today.  

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

For Mary there was not a second thought about pouring the nard on Jesus’ feet.  The fact that it was worth a year’s wages didn’t matter.  Jesus was the most important thing to her and she was showing what she valued.  Martha was serving because that is how she showed value to others and that is what she was really good at.  Lazarus was spending time at the table with Jesus and His disciples because that was of value to him. (plus he is probably just glad to be alive at this point).  Judas, we know doesn’t really value Jesus.  Perhaps he really wants top give to the poor but more likely, as the treasurer of the disciples he just wants a piece of the money for himself.  The question for us today is what do we value most?  Does the use of our time, talents, and treasure reflect this?  Lazarus gave Jesus his time.  Martha gave Jesus her talent.  Mary gave Jesus her treasure.  They all did this because to them, Jesus was of first importance.  I pray that for all of us we would pour into what we value most and that would be Jesus.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave