The Characteristics of Extravagance
Generosity is one of the hallmarks of extravagance, for the woman in Mark 14:1-11 gives lavishly of probably her most prized possession. She does not count the cost, but responds to the lavish love of God in equally lavish fashion. Generosity is a characteristic of God (see Jn 3:16, Luke 11:13) and for all who see and understand the cost of salvation to God, our heart’s response is to hold nothing back from one who held nothing back from us.
Extravagance doesn’t care what other people think and can look emotional. So often, fear of what others will think of us holds us back from serving God and we are wary of emotion, but God touches every aspect of our lives. Extravagance will risk looking fanatical and extreme because it will keep God as the sole focus of attention; it is single-minded in the pursuit of God.
The Response to Extravagance
Each person in the story responds differently to the woman’s extravagance. Simon’s response is one of disdain and disgust. He knows this woman is a sinner and thinks less of Jesus for accepting her, but Jesus reminds him that it’s all a question of understanding the debt which has been cancelled: ‘whoever has been forgiven little loves little.’ (Luke 7:45)
The disciples respond with pragmatism and rebuke, focussing on the cost of the perfume and the perceived waste of money (Mk 14:4-5). This response, whilst perfectly understandable from a purely logical and rational point of view, fails to take into account the generous heart of God (see 2 Cor 9:6-8) and God’s mathematics, which very often don’t seem to tie in with ours! (see Mal 3:10-12)
Judas, in particular, was incensed by the woman’s actions; it seems that this was the final straw for him, leading him to betrayal (see Jn 12:5-6). He may well have rationalised his attitude in pseudo-concern for the poor, but his heart’s state was not receptive to God’s grace and Jesus’ statement that this parable would be remembered forever seems to have been the thing which finally tipped him into going to the leaders to betray Jesus.
Jesus, on the other hand, responded to the woman with commendation, understanding her heart and investing in her actions an eternal significance which is worth pondering. It seems that God doesn’t mind extravagance and even positively endorses it!
The Consequences of Extravagance
The woman left the encounter with Jesus financially poorer (since the jar and the perfume were gone), but immeasurably richer in other ways. She left with the assurance of sins forgiven and the knowledge that her action had blessed Jesus prior to His death. Jesus invested prophetic significance to the woman’s act of extravagant devotion (Mk 14:9), significance far beyond what she herself had understood or intended. God takes our smallness, our daily gifts of devotion, our loaves and fishes, and He multiplies them and invests in them meaning and significance far beyond our comprehension. Even giving a cup of cold water to a disciple will reap a reward. (Matt 10:42) Our extravagance can never out-give God’s extravagance.