Tuesday, 2/10/2015

ex•trav•a•gant

 

1. spending much more than is necessary or wise. 

2. excessively high. 

3. exceeding the bounds of reason or moderation.

4. going beyond what is deserved or justifiable.

LEVITICUS 10-12

Aaron's son's do not follow the proper protocol and are killed by the fire that is hovering over the tent.  God then gives specific instructions on food and proper protocol after childbirth.

“ ‘Among those who approach me

I will be proved holy;

in the sight of all the people

I will be honored.’ ”

MATTHEW 25:1-19

It is Wednesday...the clock is ticking and the events are beginning to unfold that lead to Jesus' death.

1When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2“As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 5“But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

While Jesus is at the house of Simon the Leper in Bethany a woman approaches him and takes an expensive jar of perfume and washes his feet.  The disciples are indignant and rebuke her for wasting the perfume when it could have been sold and money given to the poor.  Jesus then corrects them.

10Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11The poor you will always have with you,^a but you will not always have me. 12When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

JOURNAL

Jesus continually has a way of getting to the heart of people.  While from a practical standpoint the disciples were correct, the jar of perfume was worth a year's wages, so there is good reason to question such "wasteful" extravagant use.  Jesus cuts to the heart.  He understands the gesture and the reason for it.  Therefore it is never about the money or practicality.

I think about this in regard to God's love for us. When I look at earth, nature, the universe...it all seems so wasteful.  Scientists believe that there exist between 2 and 50 million types of living creatures.  How is this practical?  What is the purpose? There are stars that we have never seen, animals that serve no purpose other than to exist in the wild.  Amazing sunsets, deserts, valleys, mountains, lakes, oceans...on and on and on...glorious extravagance!  This is God's love.  It is never practical, it is perfect.

4“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?

Tell me, if you understand.

5Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!

Who stretched a measuring line across it?

6On what were its footings set,

or who laid its cornerstone—

7while the morning stars sang together

and all the angels^a shouted for joy? (Job 38:4-7)