“While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.” Mark 14.3-5
I am on vacation in Italy and it’s amazing, as you would assume. The ancient churches, dating back to the 4th century AD, are quite spectacular. Although some of these churches are a little newer (1100 AD, lol), they are all magnificent and special in their own way. The extravagance of the churches is what strikes me as awe-inspiring. To build something like this in this day and age would cost tens of millions of dollars. Why were they built? To give glory to God and to point people to God.
One of the churches we visited yesterday on the Amalfi Coast even contained the relics (bones) of St. Andrew, one of the first disciples of Jesus. Although my Protestant tradition does not focus on relics, I still think it is incredible that one of the very first followers of Christ’s bones would be contained in a church. This is extravagance!
The woman who approached Jesus in Bethany at the home of Simon the Leper displayed extravagance. By breaking the clay jar of perfume and pouring it upon the head of Jesus, she lavished love upon him. Some in the crowd thought this was an excessive demonstration, but not Jesus. Later in this passage, we will see his response, but as a sneak peek—he thought it was beautiful.
When we look at these churches, we might think about giving the money to the poor or orphans instead of spending millions on a church building. But in the same way as the woman showed extravagant love to Jesus, so those who built the churches showed God the same. They sacrificed what little they had to create places that would reflect God’s glory.
Our lives are living temples of God’s glory, and through our words and deeds, we too might show him glory. By loving those God puts around us, by showing kindness and building one another up, we are able to reflect the glory of Christ.
I believe that if Jesus were walking the earth today, he would receive the glory of these ancient churches and smile upon entry into them, knowing they were built with him in mind. They are a lasting and eternal reminder that God is with us and the price Christ paid for our salvation.
“O Lord God, thank you for loving us. Thank you for the gift of the glorious. I pray that I might also give extravagance to you—of my time, money, resources, and deeds. I pray I might be your representative to the world so others might see you more clearly. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill us with your power and love. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen