The Holy Spirit would not put a price upon the pound of ointment of spikenard with which Mary anointed the feet of the Lord Jesus in John 12, but only said it was "very costly". A word only used elsewhere in Matthew 13.46 to estimate the value of the pearl which was of "great price". The Church, typified by Mary, values Him according to the "great price". He paid for her, His "very costly" sacrifice.
Judas, reckoning in worldly values, estimated the ointment as worth three hundred pence. Even thus valued it would have cost three hundred days arduous toil, for the labourer considered a penny a satisfactory wage for a day's work in the vineyard (Matthew 20.2).
In John 6.7 Philip reckoned two hundred penny-worth of bread would not be sufficient to give a little to every one of the five thousand men beside women and children. So the three hundred pence would have purchased food for five thousand people. But Mary's offering has been spiritual nutriment to many millions since.
This unstinted act of devotion was too much for the covetous heart of Judas Iscariot and aroused his cupidity. Deprived of selling the ointment, he went and sold the One whom he thought it was wasted upon, and that for thirty pieces of silver, or less than one hundred pence.
How much is His worth to you and how much do we expend on Him?
