^6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, ^7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

^8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. ^9 "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."

^10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ^11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. ^12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. ^13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

The Woman who anoints Jesus on the Wednesday of Holy Week is Mary the Sister of Lazarus and Martha. She I believe she was being prompted by God to anoint Jesus for his Burial just two days later.  It is interesting isn't it that although the disciples had heard Jesus predict His death many times they still did not understand, but this woman being prompted by God did?  It reminds us that the Lord can speak to anyone who will open up their hearts and listen. Mary willingly offers this perfume as an act of obedience to the Lrod and complete devotion of all she had.  This perfume John tells us was worth about a years wages, it was precious perfume something that Mary could not replace, and did not want to. Mark's Gospel records that she had the perfume in an alabaster box that she broke open and poured out.  Once she had broken the box there was no going back. This act of love and devotion Jesus said would be shared as an reminder to all of what this act meant. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

What a beautiful act of surrender what a precious gift to Jesus.  You would think that the others around the table that day would celebrate her devotion and praise her for her obedience.  But Costly love is not always understood is it?  She becomes the target of attack by the disciples and especially by Judas.  She who merely wants to show her devotion and express her love for Jesus is instead condemned for it.   John says that Judas is the first one to say this is wrong you are wasting money that could be used for other things, like feeding the poor. Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and used to help himself to any money that Jesus received.  After this event Judas agrees to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave, Judas was a slave to his own greed and selfishness, and it cost him. But the other disciples also jumped in as well evidently either they were influenced by Judas or had issues in their own lives.  Either way they missed the entire point of Mary's selfless act, instead they saw only what they were potentially losing instead of the Love that Mary was expressing.   Mary's love was costly, Love for God always is. Even today true devotion to God will cost you not just some things, but all things. How wonderful of the Lord to share this precious account with us on the Wednesday before He gave Himself completely expressing the most costly love ever known. May we look at our lives far differently, may we see the Lord and offer Him our lives and ourselves no matter the cost to our treasure or our reputation.  What thing is Jesus calling us to pour out in devotion to Him? What will the Cost be for you and I?  The Answer is everything.