Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. "Oh, for some meat!" they exclaimed. "We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!" (Numbers 11:4-6)
While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. (Mark 14:3)
The Israelites and the group of foreigners that traveled with them from Egypt had just experienced some of the greatest miracles in history. God, through Moses and Aaron, had single-handedly taken on Pharaoh and the Egyptian empire to free the Israelites from slavery. Seven miraculous plagues, the parting of the Red Sea (AMAZING!), and the guidance of the pillars of cloud and fire were all examples of how God suspended this world's natural laws in order to bring His people out of oppression. Then, the Lord miraculously fed the people with manna from heaven and, yet, they complained. They had a "vending machine" view of God. He was supposed to make them happy - that was the deal...or was it?
Fast forward to the 30's AD during the times of Jesus. Mary of Bethany had seen some pretty miraculous stuff, too. She knew Messiah Jesus, the Healer, the Deliverer, the Preacher, the Teacher, the One Who Raises People from the Dead…and…the Friend. Of all of these things, the great miracle of her life was coming into a place where she could sit at the feet of the Creator of the Universe and be called friend. Mary had a relationship with Jesus. Jesus ate meals at her house, enjoyed the fellowship of her brother Lazarus and sister Martha, spoke with her face to face. Yet, rather than complain about what she may have lacked, Mary took an expensive bottle of perfume and anointed Jesus with it. This was worship. She took something that was worth a lot and used it for a purpose that was worth more to her than the perfume itself.
So what's the point?
The miracles and blessings of Jesus are almost meaningless to us without having a relationship with Him. It is so very easy to become overwhelmed by, and obsessed with, what Jesus can do for us that we completely miss who Jesus is to us and who we are to Him.
Prayer
Jesus, help us to remember that we mean more to You than the blessings You give us - We are so valuable to You that You died for me. And, let us not forget that Your death and resurrection won the right for us to spend eternity with You, a life that starts here on earth when we make You Lord of our lives, and continues on forever. May we worship in humility, Spirit, and truth.
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