We all want to be loved extravagantly. Love is a decision that is usually accelerated by our emotions. When someone loves us extravagantly they have exceeded the normal showing of that love. To be extravagant means to lack restraint in using whatever resources are available. It is to exceed what is reasonable or appropriate. It is not uncommon for a young couple to act this way. They are so enamored with their new love, their only thoughts are of the other person. All their time is managed so they can carve out some time to spend with each other. They even devote their resources to be spent on the other person. Sometimes, before thinking clearly that there are other bills to be paid. Nothing matters anymore, except making the other person the object of all their affection.
Mary of Bethany was a woman who truly loved Jesus this way. In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus has come to visit his friends, Lazarus, and his sisters Mary and Martha. Martha was busy preparing for her guest. I can just see her scurrying around cleaning, cooking, and making the evening meal. Mary is now sitting at Jesus’ feet. This was an ancient posture of disciples or learners. They sat at the “feet” of their teachers – that is, beneath them, in a humble place. She was anxious to learn from Jesus. I’m sure each time Martha caught a glimpse of her sister sitting it irritated her, so much that she finally had to say something. She went to Jesus and complained, asking Him if He did not care that she was working alone while her sister was sitting. Jesus responds by telling her that she is anxious about many things, but she is missing the important. Mary had chosen to spend her time with Jesus. Nothing that needed to be done was going to interfere with learning from the Master.
Luke 10:38-42 “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
The next occasion for her to show her extravagant love was six days before the Passover. Jesus came to have dinner with his friends. This would have been after he had raised Lazarus from the dead. Mary had a very costly ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus. She then wipes his feet with her hair. She was criticized by Judas for taking such a valuable ointment and pouring all of it on Jesus’ feet. He objected that it should have been sold to help the poor. Jesus corrects him and says to let her alone. Notice, she does not sprinkle a little on him. She lavishly pours it all on Him! To those around her, it seemed extravagant, but to her, it was necessary. She took the best she had and gave all of it to Jesus. If she would have had more, I’m sure she would have used that also!
John 12:1 “Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper, and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you, but me ye have not always.”
In Mark 14:3-5, we have a very similar story. It may have been Mary, Lazarus’ sister or it may have been another woman, either way, it was an extravagant show of love for Jesus. This time the ointment was poured on His head. It had been sealed in an alabaster box and it was very precious. Again, Judas was worried about money instead of the show of love.
Mark 14:3 “And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brakes the box and poured it on his head. And some had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.”
Each one of these situations shows a love that is above and beyond the common expression of love. It was not done to draw attention to the one showing the love but to the one receiving the love. It was a giving of all, and the best she had. Why do we not love Jesus extravagantly? Do we love to the point that others think it strange? Mary was giving Jesus the best of her time and her resources.
What about our time and our resources? Are you a Christian who carves out an hour here and there to show Christ and others how much you love him, or are you consumed with being with him? I believe extravagant love is necessary for others to see what and who comes first in our lives. I also believe that when you truly understand what Jesus has done for you, there is no way you cannot be extravagant with the showing of your love. Are you willing to give Him everything, holding on tightly to nothing? Do you deny yourself of some wants, so that you can show Christ’s love by meeting others’ needs? Does he get the first part of everything about you? The first part of your day, the first part of your money, your attitude, and your actions? In Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us to seek God first. We are to love Him extravagantly. The things that we love most, will get most of our attention and our efforts. Say what we will, our actions will speak louder than our words, and the whole world will notice, especially those closest to us!
Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
