What Jesus did #24: he celebrated gratitude and generosity

So here we are at the end of another month and at the end of this series entitled ‘What Jesus did’. Of course, we’ve only skimmed the surface of what Jesus actually did, just as these Gospel accounts also can only ever skim the surface of what Jesus actually did. But it’s given me a real insight into the priorities for Jesus and how we can work to do God’s will and bring in God’s kingdom right here, right now. It’s been pretty full on, I know that, but I hope you’ve been able to take something from this too.

Next month, we will be exploring that final week of Jesus’ time here on earth, which starts with him riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. The account in John’s Gospel prior to this event is of a very tender, intimate and personal nature.

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him. John 12:1-10

Here are my initial thoughts as I read this account:-

• Jesus is among friends (this is a very different dinner invitation to the one we looked at yesterday)
• much of the action and discussion in Jesus’ ministry takes place around the dinner table
• this dinner is inspired by gratitude: to thank Jesus for raising Lazarus from the dead
• what Mary does looks like pure extravagance but is actually pure worship
• she gives all that she has, the very best she has, and pours it out at Jesus’ feet
• to think ‘What a waste!’ is a natural human reaction
• this perfume was intended for the day of Jesus’ burial, but Mary could just not wait. This might be the only opportunity she gets to show Jesus how much she cares and how grateful she is.
• Jesus is not being dismissive of the poor there and saying we should do nothing to help the poor (which some have taken this as an excuse to do). We’ll come on to this in a moment.
• there will always be those who don’t get it, the ones who want to silence you because you’re saying things and doing things they’re not comfortable with and feel challenged by and don’t want to hear – but that’s no reason to stop!

Mary could have worried about what people were going to say. She could have held back, concerned that she would regret this extravagance at a later date. But she responded to the gratitude that was overflowing out of her heart. This man had given her brother back to her. He’d taught them all what it was to live life to the full. How could she ever repay him? What could she possibly give that would ever be enough?

I don’t express my gratitude enough. I don’t tell people how much they mean to me or how much I’ve enjoyed something they’ve done. I don’t know why. Actually, I do. There are two main reasons. One: I’m always too busy, always rushing from one thing to the next. I don’t take the time to feel the gratitude and express the gratitude. And so it was only after I’d rushed out of the door on Monday that I acknowledged just how good that yoga class was and wished I’d said that to the teacher. Two: I worry what people might think – that I might come across as too ‘gushing’, too emotional, too enthusiastic (sounds ridiculous, huh?). And then we end up standing at someone’s funeral, wishing we’d said all the things to this special person when they were alive that it’s now too late to say to them…

And as for Jesus, I’m not great at expressing my gratitude to him either. I think it comes down to time again. I don’t take the time and space to reflect on what’s going on in my life to really acknowledge the incredible things that he’s doing in me and for me. I don’t take the time to explore what offering a gift of gratitude to Jesus might look like for me today. I’m also scared of what people will think. That they’ll think I’m crazy or too ‘gushing’, too emotional, too enthusiastic. As if that really matters at the end of the day…

Jesus allowed Mary to express her gratitude. He gave her the space to make her offering of thanks. He did not dismiss it or get embarrassed or minimise her offering. He accepted what she had to give. How good are we at accepting gifts of gratitude? Let’s ditch the ‘You shouldn’t have’ stuff, shall we?

And finally, just to clarify: when Jesus said ‘the poor will always be with you’, he wasn’t giving people carte blanche to go and blow everything on perfume and wine and flowers and chocolate. The people listening to him would have known what he meant. This phrase is taken from a context that everyone would have been aware of at the time. And there’s a second half to the saying that they would all have known.

If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Be careful not to harbour this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for cancelling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.  Deuteronomy 15: 7-11

That’s the context. Give freely. Give generously. Don’t give because you have to but out of a genuine desire to share all that you have. Don’t give out of duty. Don’t give grudgingly. But give. Just give.

This is a great place to wrap up this month of exploring what Jesus’ love in action looked like and can look like in our lives.

Live to give. Give to live.

Let your generosity overflow out from a grateful heart.