Mark 14
People in love tend toward extravagance. Why walk a half hour in the moonlight when you could walk an hour? Why send a love note when a three page love letter can be sent? People in love tend toward extravagance, The pragmatic, utilitarian question "What good does it do?” is laughable to lovers. It's the wrong question to ask about moonlit walks and love notes. That's why being in love is so special; it knows not moderation; it's excessive.

This chapter of Mark records such excessive acts of love and devotion. A woman breaks an alabaster jar of perfume, and pours it over Jesus. Those watching are incensed. “What are you doing?” they yell at her. “You should have sold this perfume, them it would have been useful, then you could have helped the poor. This is just a waste!” Only Jesus truly understands the woman's actions. “Leave her alone,” he tells them, “She has done a beautiful thing.” Jesus understands that she acts out of love. Sure it's extravagant, it's lavish, it doesn't do any good for the poor, but she must do it. She must show her love and devotion to Jesus. She performs an exuberant and excessive act, and Jesus predicts that where ever the gospel is preached she will be remembered for her love.

Later in this chapter, we find Jesus entering Jerusalem. The crowd covers the road with their cloaks; they scale the palms and cut branches, waving them in greeting. "Hosanna," They exclaim. It's a parade; a ticker-tape entry into the capital. Israel's most festive season made more festive by the wild, excessive and exuberant entry of this one who comes in the name of the Lord. This is not a scene of moderation and decorum. An extravagant and excessive display of emotion plays out in the streets of Jerusalem. What good did it do? Won’t this same crowd clamor for Jesus’ crucifixion at the end of the week? Yet at that moment, nothing could have held back this excessive act of praise.

So, what good are such things; moonlight walks, expensive jars of perfume, ticker-taper parades? What possible difference can such things make? No difference at all really, if it weren't for love. The Gospel of John tells us we love because God first loved us - that love comes from God. And since true love knows no moderation, since true love is excessive, these exuberant acts of devotion and praise can not be stopped. They are expressions of the heart that cannot be denied.

Why? Well, reflect again upon this chapter of Mark, and the two very different acts of love and praise for Jesus. There is a bitter irony in both passages. As the poor woman wastes a large amount of precious ointment, and as the rather fickle crowd, shout and wave greetings to Jesus, Jesus is also preparing to perform an extravagant act of love, isn't he? Just as palm branches and perfume are poured out; wasted in an excessive act of devotion, our Savior Jesus prepares to waste his precious life for the likes of you and me. “What possible good resides here,” they must have asked each other as Jesus hung on the cross. “It doesn't make sense. It is extreme.” But God choose such extreme measures and such excessive actions, because God loves us, and wants to save us. Thanks be to God!
Grace and Peace,
Stacy