BibleProject | Holy Week & EasterSample

Break the Jar or Take the Money?

The fact that God cares for us with overflowing loyal love (Hebrew: khesed) is awesome, and today’s video shows how perfect compassion, patience, and mercy flow from God’s loving nature.

But the fact that God cares for our enemies the same way might sound less awesome. From start to finish, Scripture shows people responding differently to the same good news, and today’s reading connects two response stories, one about Judas rejecting and betraying Jesus and one about a woman who honors Jesus and gives him everything.

A Roman denarius was a silver coin worth about one day’s wage for laborers and soldiers. So when a woman breaks open a 300-denarii alabaster jar of perfume and pours it on Jesus, people freak out. This wasn’t just a luxury—it was financial security.

A brand new jar of pure nard (Mark 14:3; John 12:3) was like treasure, and it often served as a family inheritance or dowry. Once broken, it had no resale value, which meant no savings left and no return on investment. But to this woman, Jesus’ way, truth, and life meant more than any sum of money.

In Matthew and Mark, the woman remains unnamed, but John calls her “Mary” (John 12:3). Each writer locates her story in Bethany, a name derived from the Hebrew words bet, “house,” and ‘aniyyah, “suffering.” So Bethany means “house of suffering,” a fitting backdrop for this woman who embraces Jesus when others, like Judas, cannot.

Judas receives 30 pieces of silver (Matt. 26:15) for handing Jesus over, the price of a slave in Exodus 21:32. He sells Jesus cheaply, while Mary entrusts her entire future to him.

Today, people still respond differently when confronted with God’s mercy. It’s a mercy that is slow to anger, compassionate, and overflowing with loyal love (Exod. 34:6-7) toward all, even enemies. To accept such love is to accept Christ’s suffering, something Judas could not do. But the woman from Bethany, the “house of suffering,” could.

Judas was likely just fine with God’s love for Israel including him, but not with it extending to everyone else. Mary saw that same love and wanted it more than anything. By pouring out her life savings, she honors King Jesus, whose loyal love overflows to all creation. This leaves us wondering: When confronted with God’s love in Christ, will I turn away like Judas or draw near like Mary of Bethany?

Reflection Question

• From today’s video, how would you describe God’s “loyal love,” or khesed, in your own words? What might it look like to offer such love to others, including friends and “enemies” alike?