What Jesus Did! 'A Time for Extravagance' — Matthew 26:6-9

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.

The disciples were indignant when they saw this. "What a waste!" they said. "It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor."

— Matthew 26:6-9 NLT

Key Thought

Extravagance! We hate it wasted on others; we often find a way to justify it for ourselves. But God is a God of extravagance. Because of his extravagant grace, we have a beautiful and marvelous universe. Because of God's extravagance, we have a wonderful book full of his truth. Because of God's extravagance, we have a wonderful Savior in Jesus Christ, God's Son. Because of God's extravagance, we have the wonderful promise of an eternity with him in heaven.

While God doesn't want us to be selfishly extravagant on ourselves, he does want us to be generous with others and wants us to be joyously appreciative toward him.

While the disciples were correct that waste is not welcomed, they were failing to see the incredible worthiness of their Master — that he is worthy of their most extravagant gifts because of the incredibly extravagant gift he was about to give them — and us.

The real question for us today is this: What have we done, sacrificed, or offered as our appreciation for God's awesome and extravagant gift to us in Jesus?

Today's Prayer

Holy and sacrificial Father, I have no way of truly understanding your gift of Jesus and what it cost you. Your extravagant sacrifice has saved me, redeemed me, pardoned me, delivered me from death, and given me the promise of life with you in heaven. How can I ever thank you? What gift could I give you to show my thanks and appreciation? I know of nothing that I can give you worthy of your sacrifice, so I will give you what I can. Today I give you my heart and will seek to live my life today, and each day from this day forward, alive in the joy of your salvation and living to your glory. In Jesus' matchless name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 2 Corinthians 9:10-15
  • Galatians 5:22-23
  • 1 Peter 4:4-5

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Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 26:6-9 NLT — "What a waste!" —— "It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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