Why do you suppose the Spirit included this event in the Scriptures? There are many things that happened during Jesus' ministry that didn't make it into the Bible, but this does. Why? I think that one reason is that the Spirit wanted to place this example before us. This is the kind of love that He expects us all to strive for as disciples of Jesus. The Spirit is calling all of us to imitate Mary in her costly and daring expression of love for Jesus. I can say that because what Mary did is just an example of the familiar, 'You shall love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.' Mary's example doesn't let us skip past what that command actually expects. Oh, it isn't about ointment and large amounts of money. But the love that the Spirit calls for is costly and daring. Mary shows us what that means.