In the rhythm of Holy Week, Wednesday often sits in a quiet tension. We are past the high-energy entrance of Palm Sunday, yet we haven’t quite reached the weight of the Last Supper or the darkness of Gethsemane. But tucked within this day is one of the most provocative acts of worship in the entire New Testament: the anointing of Jesus by Mary.
A Collision of Values
The setting is Simon the Leper’s house. It’s a place that already represented a miracle—a home belonging to someone who was once an outcast but was now whole. In the middle of the fellowship and laughter, Mary enters with an alabaster jar of perfume worth a year’s wages.
As Pastor Derek shared, this moment created a “collision.” When Mary broke that jar and poured the expensive oil over Jesus, it forced everyone in the room to reveal what they truly valued.
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The Critics: Judas and others saw waste. They calculated the cost and decided it was “too much.”
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The Worshiper: Mary looked at the Savior who had given her life back and decided that no matter the cost, it would “never be enough.”
The Aroma of the Cross
One of the most striking points Derek made during our talk was the physical reality of this act. Jesus himself noted that Mary was anointing him for his burial.
Think about that: as Jesus walked through the trials, the beatings, and the long journey to Golgotha, he went to the cross smelling like the sacrifice Mary had poured out. In his moments of deepest agony, the lingering fragrance of her worship was a reminder of why he was there. He was covered in the scent of someone who loved him completely.
Beauty in the Breaking
We got real about what “breaking” looks like in our own lives. Pastor Derek shared from his own journey of loss and crushing, reminding us that we often spend our lives trying to avoid the very breaking point that leads to our greatest intimacy with God.
He used the beautiful imagery of a stained-glass window. Those masterpieces aren’t made from whole sheets of glass; they are composed of broken pieces, carefully placed by the Creator to form a picture more stunning than the original material could ever be.
Your Story in the Story
Is there something in your life that feels like it’s costing you too much right now? Are you facing a “crushing” season?
Our prayer is that you would see your story within this story. As Derek encouraged us: don’t retreat from the breaking. On the other side of that sacrifice is a new level of faith, a new intimacy, and a restoration that only the Holy Spirit can provide.
Watch the full episode with Pastor Derek Hansen below:
