“Why this waste?”

When Jesus' disciples saw a woman

bringing an expensive jar of perfume and pouring it on Jesus' head

while He was sitting at the table in the house of Simon the leper,

they were indignant and said, "Why this waste?

This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor!"

(Matthew 26:6-9, Korean Modern Bible).

As I meditate on this passage,

I think of a young missionary named Jim Elliot.

At the age of 29, he was martyred along with four fellow missionaries in Ecuador

while working to evangelize the people.

When the incident was reported in the American newspapers at that time,

it was accompanied by the heading: "What an unnecessary waste!"

(Internet).

Was the death of missionary Jim Elliot truly a waste?

Was the precious jar of perfume poured on Jesus' head

by the woman preparing His burial a waste?

Would it have been better to sell the perfume at a high price

and give the money to the poor?

One of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and told them

that he would hand Jesus over to them for thirty pieces of silver (vv. 14-15).

Jesus, knowing His disciples' thoughts, said,

"She has done a beautiful thing to Me" (v. 10, Korean Modern Bible).

The lyrics of hymn “Master, no Offering Costly and Sweet”:

(Verse 1) Following Mary Magdalene, who poured the expensive perfume on You,

I will offer my fragrant sacrifice to You, O Lord of love.

(Verse 4) As the twilight of life approaches and the labor of this earth ends,

I will serve You and peacefully go, O Lord of love.