When was the last time you gave until it hurt? Maybe not literally hurt, but pained you to do so?

A woman approached him with an alabaster jar filled with very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She opened the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus’ head.

Mark 14:4b (NCV)

When was the last time you poured out a year’s salary? That’s what this woman did. The perfume she poured over Jesus was worth roughly the annual wage of an average labourer. Of course, Jesus’ disciples balked at the action seeing only the value of the offering and not the offering for what it was:

This woman did the only thing she could do for me; she poured perfume on my body to prepare me for burial.

Mark 14:8 (NCV)

We read the story now and shake our heads at the disciples (as we often seem to do), but the woman is honoured.

I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached in all the world, what this woman has done will be told, and people will remember her.

Mark 14:9 (NCV)

Her costly honour of Jesus put her into history books – literally. She gave a costly gift, not because she wanted to be praised for the expense, but because she wanted to honour Jesus sacrifice with a sacrifice of her own.

Daily Bible reading: Deuteronomy 17-19, Mark 14:1-25