Jesus is Worthy of Waste

Jesus is worthy of waste. 

This is the idea I’ve been chewing on lately. What a subversive idea in a world that’s obsessed with numbers, analytics, growth, results, and efficiency. Jesus is worthy of waste.

Do you remember the scene in John 12 where Mary pours a year's worth of wages on Jesus’s feet?

“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 12:3–8)

I want to point out 5 things from this passage to highlight this idea that Jesus is worthy of waste.

1 | Mary wasted her ointment. (“anointed the feet”)

She doesn’t anoint his hands, his head, or his clothes. She anointed his feet. Now it likely wouldn’t have been appropriate for her to anoint his head or hands, but that’s not my point. She poured out something expensive and fragrant on feet. Feet that would soon walk the streets and quickly wear off the beautiful smell. At least on his hands the smell would have lasted longer. Feet that would soon be covered with dirt again. At least on his head it would have stayed clean longer. But she poured it out on feet. What a waste of perfume.

2 | Mary wasted a lot of ointment. (“sold for three hundred denarii”)

This is not the perfume sample you received at the mall. The cost of this perfume was about a year’s wages. What did you make last year? What was on your tax return? Do you own anything that’s equal to that amount? Maybe your house or a car. Mary owns something that valuable and she dispenses it all in a moment. What a waste of money.

3 | Mary’s ointment could have been more useful. (“given to the poor”)

As Judas observes, something that valuable could have done a lot of good for others. How many poor widows and homeless orphans could have been fed and clothed with the proceeds? How much good could you do with a year’s worth of wages? With a year’s worth of time? What a wasted opportunity.

4 | Concerns about usefulness are sometimes concerns about self. (“not because he cared”)

While Judas’s intentions seem godly and noble, this passage lifts the hood so we can see the self-centered motivation underneath. He was really only concerned about himself and how he could benefit from giving to the poor. Is it any different for us today? How often are our desires for ministry really desires for our own success or fame? Sometimes what we label stewardship of time, money or talents, is just love for self in disguise.

5 | Jesus is more important than being useful. (“but you do not always have me”)

In one moment, Jesus says, I’m more important than the poor. He agrees with Judas that the poor could be greatly helped by the proceeds of this perfume. Yes, good could have been done. Yes, it would have been efficient and effective and quantifiable. But. BUT. “I’m here,” Jesus says. The presence of Jesus trumps efficiency. It trumps efficacy. It trumps numbers and measurement.

Jesus is worthy of wasted time. Is this not what we do when we sabbath? We could be doing all sorts of good things for others, but instead we sit. We rest. We do nothing. Because Jesus is more valuable than productivity.

Jesus is worthy of wasted resources. Isn’t this what we do when we give our money and possessions away? We could invest it. We could sell it. We could make it profitable. But Jesus is more valuable than a rate of return.

Jesus is worthy of wasted talents. Isn’t this what we do when we take up the posture of a servant? Am I capable of doing more than the dishes and laundry? Yes. Am I capable of doing more than the grunt work at my office? Of course. If I truly become a servant and slave to all (Mark 10:44), will I waste my potential? Will my giftings and abilities lie dormant? Absolutely. But Jesus is more valuable than my potential.

This is my prayer for myself and for you. Let us waste our lives on Jesus. He’s worthy. He’s supremely lovely. He’s THE treasure of the universe. And nothing poured out at his feet will ever be lost.