I. The Unconditional Love Revealed in the House of Simon the Leper at BethanyThe incident that occurred in the house of Simon the leper at Bethany is mentioned somewhat differently in the Gospels-specifically in Mark 14:3-9, Matthew 26:6-13, Luke 7:36-50, and John 12:1-8. However, the core message these passages share is this: What is true love? Centering particularly on Mark 14:3-9, we see a scene where Jesus is dining at the house of Simon the leper, and a woman breaks a costly alabaster jar of perfume and pours it on Jesus' head. This event is so significant that Jesus declares, "Wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her" (Mark 14:9). This statement is not merely about the act of pouring out expensive perfume, but rather about the essence of love contained within that act. Here we also encounter the themes Pastor David Jang highlights: "the sacrificial love of the Lord" and "the devotion that humanity ought to return to Him."
First, the passage begins with, "While He was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the leper..." (Mark 14:3). In those days, leprosy (Hansen's disease) was considered a severe ailment requiring strict isolation. According to Leviticus 13, those with leprosy had to remain outside the community. Yet Jesus personally sought out Simon the leper, healed him, and eventually dined at his house. This was a shocking act of love that transcended the established order and norms. It parallels how Jesus did not hesitate to eat with those labeled "sinners," including tax collectors and prostitutes, graciously welcoming them. Pastor David Jang interprets this as follows: "Because the Lord descended to the very lowest place, even those society deemed utterly untouchable, like lepers, were able to receive His healing touch. Herein lies the core of our faith." In other words, Jesus went to those the world had cast aside, restored them, and ultimately shared a meal with them.
In this context, a woman appears. Mark's Gospel refers to her only as "a woman," but John 12:1-3 identifies her as Mary, the sister of Lazarus-the same Lazarus Jesus had raised from the dead. Mary comes with a very expensive perfume-pure nard-and does not merely open the jar or pour out a little of it. She breaks the jar itself and pours it over Jesus' head (Mark 14:3). Its value amounts to three hundred denarii, roughly a year's wages for a laborer, so people could not understand her act of love and deemed it a "waste." Yet Jesus calls it a "beautiful thing" (Mark 14:6). In this context, pouring out costly perfume symbolizes true love. Anyone who has ever been in love can relate to the concept that love is about giving lavishly, without calculation. Pastor David Jang comments, "Even if it looks futile and excessive in people's eyes, any love offered to the Lord is never wasteful. When it comes to love, we must not hesitate or try to calculate what we give."
Why must love go to the extent of seeming "wasteful"? Returning to the text, we see that the woman's breaking of the alabaster jar of perfume is highly symbolic. In the cultural context of Palestine, precious perfumes were often used to anoint the bodies of the deceased for burial. Not only was the perfume itself top-quality, but the alabaster jar was also a prized container. Yet the woman showed no reluctance or regret. Instead, by breaking the jar, she expressed her intent to give her entire self to the Lord. From head to toe, the perfume flowed over Jesus, representing a love that fully devoted itself to His being. And Jesus, referring to this event, says, "She poured perfume on My body beforehand to prepare for My burial" (Mark 14:8), thereby hinting at His impending death. The Lord's death was not a "waste" but the decisive sacrifice that saves sinners and restores humanity trapped in spiritual decay-like leprosy. Pastor David Jang describes it as follows: "In God's grand drama of salvation, the blood and very life of Jesus are the pinnacle of unconditional love. Once we truly grasp that love, we will, like Mary, naturally respond with whole-hearted devotion."
Yet the disciples and others object, saying that the woman's devotion could have been used to help the poor instead: "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor" (Mark 14:4-5). Matthew 26:8-9 records that the "disciples" were indignant upon seeing her action, while John 12:4-5 shows Judas Iscariot taking the lead in criticizing her, claiming that it would have been better to sell the perfume and give the proceeds to the poor. Although his words sound plausible on the surface, John 12:6 reveals that Judas was a hypocrite who used to steal from the moneybag he managed. Regarding this, Pastor David Jang warns, "When you try to judge an act of love before the Lord by its 'practicality' and 'rational calculations,' worldly greed easily creeps in."True love cannot be translated into calculations, and while caring for the poor is indeed important, it cannot take precedence over the essence of love itself.
The disciples' inability to grasp love-and even responding with criticism or anger-stands in stark contrast to the woman's posture. Mary weeps and breaks the jar, and as a result, the fragrance of the perfume fills the house (John 12:3, Luke 7:38). Meanwhile, the disciples tally the cost-"three hundred denarii"-as though they were crunching numbers, analyzing profit and loss. They sought to comprehend an inestimable divine value through a human calculation. Pastor David Jang notes, "Even though the disciples had long walked with the Lord and received countless blessings from Him, if they fail to fully delight in the glory of His love, they may become the most vehement critics of what appears to be reckless. Hence, believers who have long been in the faith must be cautious." Even if one is always at church, reading Scripture, and accustomed to serving, one can still lose the core essence of genuine love and end up acting like the disciples.
Ultimately, Jesus defends the woman's act by saying, "The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have Me" (Mark 14:7). This does not trivialize caring for the poor; rather, He is emphasizing the supreme worth of "this woman's love, which prepares My death." By championing the absolute priority of this act of love, Jesus hints at how our salvation is completed through the seemingly wasteful sacrifice of the cross. Then He declares, "Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her" (Mark 14:9). In so doing, He makes it clear that believers of all times and places should learn the essence of love through this event. Pastor David Jang, in his sermons on this passage, reiterates, "If, whenever we worship or serve and devote ourselves to God, we start thinking, 'Is this efficient? Isn't this too much?' we risk distancing ourselves from the glory of the gospel. Love is about giving relentlessly, and sometimes it is only within the context of seeming waste that God's kingdom expands and true restoration happens."
Furthermore, the fact that Simon the leper prepared a meal for the Lord after his healing also carries an important lesson. Just as Simon, having been healed of leprosy, showed gratitude to Christ, so too, after being healed of our sins and wounds, we owe the Lord our love. That love cannot be limited by saying, "This much should suffice." Because God's grace is infinite, we must aspire to give our maximum in return. This is the posture of faith-"breaking the expensive alabaster jar." Pastor David Jang teaches, "Breaking the jar of perfume and pouring it out signifies not just material dedication, but a total outpouring of all our emotions, time, talents, and entire life. When love is the driving force, this devotion becomes a most beautiful offering to God."Additionally, Luke 7:37-38 sheds further light on our meditation. In that passage, a "sinful woman" comes to Jesus while He is dining at a Pharisee's house. She weeps at His feet, pours perfume on them, wipes them with her hair, and kisses them. This story also demonstrates the essence of love in a dramatic way. Kneeling and weeping, she uses her most precious possession-her hair-to wash and honor Jesus' feet, showing that love transcends social status. At the time, the woman was stigmatized as a "sinner" and marginalized. But Jesus took notice of her and taught the Pharisee, asking, "Do you see how great her love for Me is?" The Pharisee had religious and social superiority, yet failed to show Jesus any genuine love. The sinful woman, however, devoted herself entirely, and her devotion pleased the Lord. Pastor David Jang points out, "No matter how extensive our background, knowledge, religious credentials, or worldly positions, if genuine love is missing, we are merely 'acting religious' like the Pharisee." Only when love is our motivation can we offer a devotion pleasing to the Lord.
Ultimately, as we observe Jesus dining in the house of Simon the leper at Bethany, we witness the very heart of the gospel: God's kingdom begins in the lowest places and extends even to those afflicted by sin and disease. The woman's act of "breaking the alabaster jar of perfume" that follows mirrors the sacrificial love Jesus first showed us on the cross. Just as Jesus gave Himself unsparingly for sinners, so too did the woman give her best unreservedly to Him. When Pastor David Jang preaches on this passage, he frequently underscores the point: "Because our Lord loved us to the end (John 13:1), we too must be able to give until the end-even if it seems reckless. For the foundation and culmination of our faith are not found in 'calculated conditions' or 'efficiency,' but solely in 'love.'"
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II. The Disciples' Calculating Perspective on LoveHaving established this, we now need to examine why the disciples could not understand the concept of "the wastefulness of love." In Mark 14:4-5, some present (that is, the disciples) say, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." Similarly, Matthew 26:8-9 records the disciples being indignant and saying, "Why this waste? It would have been better to sell it and help the poor." Luke 7 makes a parallel point when a Pharisee comments that if Jesus were truly a prophet, He would know the sinful woman's character and refuse her. And in John 12:4-5, we learn that Judas Iscariot specifically rebuked the woman, asking, "Why wasn't this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" Though different individuals-disciples, Pharisees, Judas-are portrayed in different Gospels, they share a common perspective: they fail to understand the act of love and dismiss its spiritual worth with a calculating mindset.
It is noteworthy that the disciples, Pharisees, and Judas all brought up "the poor." Indeed, helping the poor was (and still is) a core virtue emphasized in the Law (Deuteronomy 15:7-11). But in reality, they were voicing their complaints: "This precious perfume is so wasteful-it's too inefficient." They used caring for the poor as a veneer for their own real motives, which were far from genuine love. John 12:6, for example, indicates that Judas was a thief who used to steal from the moneybag, driven by greed and selfishness. According to Pastor David Jang, "When you look at an act of love through the lens of your own greed or calculations, you can easily be led to resentment, envy, or anger." This can happen even among believers today-both inside and outside the church.
Jesus' remark, "The poor you will always have with you" (Mark 14:7, John 12:8), never means we should ignore caring for the needy. Referencing Deuteronomy 15:11, it implies that "there will always be opportunities to help the poor, but right now, this act of love preparing for My death is of utmost importance." Pastor David Jang explains, "Serving the Lord and helping our neighbors are not an either-or choice. However, true charity and service must stem from a genuine love for God. The woman's act of breaking the jar symbolizes that, and anyone who calls it a 'waste' has yet to experience the glory of God-centered love."
Following this event, Judas, whose heart is ensnared by the devil, embarks on the path of betraying Jesus (Mark 14:10-11, John 13:2). Judas ultimately sells Jesus for thirty pieces of silver and meets a tragic end. We may wonder, "Why does betrayal emerge right after an event where love reaches its pinnacle?" The Gospel writers thus illustrate that even in the very place where love is at its fullest, Satan can still be at work. When one misunderstands or rejects love, the human heart can spiral into extreme darkness. Mark 14:10-11 records Judas immediately leaving to seek a way to hand Jesus over to the chief priests. Pastor David Jang often references this scene to say, "A heart that does not realize or accept love ends up hindering God's plan of salvation, even going so far as to hand Jesus over to the cross. We too must always be aware that rejecting the power of true love could lead us to distance ourselves from the Lord and venture onto the path of betrayal."
Another central message in this event is that "love inevitably produces inspiration, and that inspiration leads to even greater love." As the woman's perfume fills the house, the bystanders' reactions split into two extremes. The Lord is deeply moved by her devotion and tells others to remember her. Yet the disciples respond with, "Why this waste?" and Judas ultimately chooses the worst course of action-betrayal. When the essence of love is revealed, people's hidden motives are laid bare. Those who truly love the Lord are further touched and receive deeper grace, desiring to participate in such love. Those who prioritize personal gain and calculation, however, protest, "Why do we need that? It's too irrational." Pastor David Jang observes, "When someone experiences love in the gospel, they are stirred to think, 'Ah, I want to give to the Lord like that, too.' But when love is unknown, it can instead provoke discomfort or derision, 'That's too much passion,' or even hostility toward it. This sometimes leads to conflict between those who serve fervently and those who do not in the church. The only way to resolve such conflict is for all to truly encounter the Lord's love and experience deep grace."
Reflecting on Luke 15-where Jesus tells the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son-we see that love often seems inefficient. A shepherd leaves ninety-nine sheep in search of one lost sheep, an act that appears foolish by worldly standards. A woman lights a lamp and sweeps the house to find a single lost coin, then calls friends to celebrate, likely spending more on the celebration than the coin's value. A father who welcomes back his prodigal son with open arms and holds a feast with the fattened calf also seems imprudent in terms of cost-effectiveness. Yet these stories demonstrate how God's love actually works: it is unconditional, saying, "I will seek you out," and celebrates each person's return. Pastor David Jang remarks, "The world may consider God's love to be foolish, yet it is through this 'foolish' and seemingly wasteful love that we are saved and become children of God. Anyone who understands this can never call the woman's pouring of perfume a waste."
Moreover, the disciples or Judas, upon seeing the woman's sacrifice, reacted with anger because they had forgotten the nature of the love they had personally received. They had already experienced Jesus' enduring love, despite their ignorance and stubbornness. Yet they now labeled as "wasteful" the love displayed in front of their eyes. Perhaps they also felt a subtle sense of inferiority or jealousy when confronted with an extreme devotion they themselves had not exhibited. Love often exposes one's own calculating tendencies or covetousness in the face of another's "total surrender." Pastor David Jang points this out in his sermons: "If we can truly give everything to the Lord, such devotion is never in vain. But if we inwardly ask, 'Do we really have to do that much? Isn't that over the top?' then we have yet to grasp half the power of the gospel and the mystery of God's love."
In conclusion, contrasting the "wastefulness of love" with the disciples' calculating view teaches believers that we must choose the way of the woman-namely, breaking the alabaster jar and pouring its contents out before God. In daily life, we prioritize rationality and efficiency. But in seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness, love and devotion take precedence over efficiency. We remember that the Lord gave up the glory of heaven to come to earth, embraced Simon the leper and all sinners, and finally surrendered His life on the cross. The woman at Bethany followed that example by giving her most precious possession unreservedly. This is the true meaning of the gospel. Pastor David Jang summarizes, "From God's perspective, the work of salvation may appear utterly wasteful-sending His only begotten Son to shed His precious blood for fallen humanity. However, what seems wasteful is exactly where the power of the gospel lies, and it is the only path for sinners to be reborn." For this reason, as we help the poor, serve in ministry, and care for the world, we must always examine whether we possess "a heart of love for God." Without love, all our service and charity risk becoming mere pretense. If love leads the way, we joyfully accept sacrifices that defy worldly logic, and like Mary, we can weep and devote ourselves fully at the Lord's feet. That kind of revealed love will, in God's perfect timing, be used to fulfill His plan of salvation-much like Jesus said, "She did this to prepare Me for burial," indicating that her act was in alignment with God's redemptive purpose.
Finally, reflecting on the disciples' misunderstanding and rebukes-and on Judas' betrayal-urges us to consider whether we have ever belittled or envied others' devotion, either in or outside the church. Even if we do not comprehend another person's way of expressing love, if the Lord delights in it, we must be careful not to criticize it or mutter, "Why do they go that far?" Instead, we should rejoice in the grace God works through that love, and learn to participate in it. Pastor David Jang cautions, "When fellow believers exhibit fervent devotion to the Lord, if you sarcastically ask, 'Why such excessive dedication?' your heart may already be drifting from the disciple's path toward Judas' path." If the church community is to be filled with love, we must encourage one another and labor that the fruit of love might abound.
Through this incident in Simon the leper's house, we see Jesus' profound love for the wounded and sinful, culminating in the woman's unconditional devotion-breaking her alabaster jar of perfume. And the disciples' misunderstanding and anger serve as a mirror, revealing our own calculating stance. Yet by focusing closely on this incident, we recognize why Jesus calls her deed a "beautiful thing" and instructs that "wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." God's love may look like a "waste" by human standards, but in truth, it rescues, heals, and redeems each precious soul. Only those who perceive that love can break their alabaster jar, and the fragrance of that perfume then spreads everywhere, testifying to the reality of the gospel.
This passage ultimately challenges us: "What is true love, and how are we to practice it?" Some in the church or the world may label our devotion as "useless" or "unproductive." But if we have experienced the love of Christ on the cross, if we are convinced that we have been set free from sin by that unconditional grace, then we need not fear being called wasteful in our acts of love. Rather, we can freely and boldly break our alabaster jar before Him. Such devotion is never wasted; indeed, Jesus promises to remember it wherever the gospel is proclaimed. Pastor David Jang stresses this: "Love offered to God cannot be measured by worldly standards. It carries a heavenly value beyond all calculation." And it is in this love that we find the freedom to serve wholeheartedly, spreading the fragrance of the gospel wherever we go.
Thus, in these two main sections, we see Pastor David Jang articulating the essence of the gospel-namely, the unconditional, sacrificial love of Jesus Christ and the fact that offering our all in response is never wasteful. Love sometimes appears foolish or wasteful, but it is precisely such love that undergirds God's kingdom and brings us life. Hence, the church must always remember the story of the woman who broke her alabaster jar. And no matter who we are-Simon the leper, cured by the Lord; Mary, moved to tears by His love and pouring out everything at His feet; or the disciples, who failed to understand love and thus need repentance-we are all invited to a genuine restoration and transformation. Our commission is to cling again to this "seemingly wasteful love" and, through it, bear witness to Jesus. Pastor David Jang's message calls us to that same place: "The woman's devotion is the gospel itself, and the gospel is the love of God. Proclaiming that love is the church's reason for being and the holy path each one of us must walk."
