Is Jesus Worth That Much?

Jesus is reclining at the table. Lazarus was there. Martha was serving. Mary, their sister, came to Jesus and poured a bottle of very expensive perfume on His feet. She used her long hair to rub in the oil. The aroma filled the room.

"What are you doing?!" Judas asked indignantly, "This perfume was worth a whole year's wages. It could have been sold and given to the poor!"

Certainly Judas response sounds noble. Feeding the poor seems to be a better use of this perfume. All of it was placed on Jesus feet. It was gone in moments. Surely the poor mean more than this.

It is in this human reasoning that we discount the value of Jesus. Human reasoning will leave you without worship. Human reasoning is not based upon your love for Him. It is merely what appears right in your own eyes. Many reading this blog may have agreed with Judas. Jesus is just not worth a year's wages. It would be better to give it to the poor.

This is how people are able to forget about Jesus. One morning they get up and do something that does not honor their Lord and justify it with human reasoning. They say, "I can't go to church on Sundays because I want to spend time with my family. My family is involved in (you name it) which has its practices and games on Sundays. Surely, it is more important for me to spend time with my family."

It seems reasonable. It even seems laudable but it is really saying that Jesus doesn't mean that much. Don't worry about explaining it to the believers, its really your testimony to the non-believers that you will have to answer. They are reading you clearly. They don't think Jesus is worth that much either. They are glad you joined them. It verifies their belief. Surely, Jesus isn't worth this much.

I have seen non-believers observe the furnishings in a church and exclaim, "This would have been better spent on the poor!" I wonder if they have ever read the story of Mary giving her perfume. I wonder if they know they are repeating the words of Judas. A church should honor the Lord. It may not be lavish but it needs to be the most honorable place it can be.

Is Jesus really worth your devotion? Is He really worth all that you have? Is He worth your time and possessions? Human reasoning will never lead you to say yes.

When you get down to it, it all depends upon your love. If you love Him, there is nothing beyond His reach. You will hold back everything you can if you don't love Him. He is an idol rather than your Lord. He is a god of convenience.

Is Jesus worth that much?