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Yes, I guess I'm taking the Judas position here, but I still believe it. There is also a difference in scope here - if that vase had been valuable enough to feed thousands and thousands of starving people, I'm guessing (and I certainly could be wrong) that Jesus would have taken the big view and fed them. Would Mary have worshipped Jesus any less without that vase?

"Would Mary have worshipped Jesus any less without that vase?"

Apparently Jesus thought so. Jesus warned that "the poor you have with you always." He also reprimanded the "rich young ruler" who had tithed all his life and had done good deeds, because he wasn't willing to part with his money to worship Jesus.

Yes, I guess I'm taking the Judas position here, but I still believe it. There is also a difference in scope here - if that vase had been valuable enough to feed thousands and thousands of starving people, I'm guessing (and I certainly could be wrong) that Jesus would have taken the big view and fed them. Would Mary have worshipped Jesus any less without that vase?

Actually, the "big view" was exactly in view here -- the biggest view of all, that is, when one considers that the whole course of Human History is "His Story", the Father's outworking in Time of His glorification of the Son as Redeemer (and also as Judge -- for Jesus Christ is glorified both in His Redemption of The Church, and His Judgment of God-rejecting Reprobates).

That bottle of "pure nard" -- an extremely rare and potent aromatic ointment imported thousands of miles from India -- was worth several times its weight in gold.

The cost of such pure nard was equivalent to a year's wages for a laborer... you could have fed hundreds of families an entire meal. We're talking super extravagant, top-notch quality stuff here. ~~ Dr. Richard Meyer, Presbyterian

A laborer's wages for an entire year -- let's call it $30-40,000 US dollars in today's terms. How far would $35,000 stretch if donated to a soup kitchen? Hundreds of families? "Thousands and thousands of starving people"? Why didn't Jesus take the "big view"? How could He be so selfish?

Answer: He wasn't selfish (Jesus was never selfish). But... it was time. All of History is "His Story", and it was time for Him to receive His Anointing for Burial.

"And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying."

It was time for Him to receive His "Last Rites"... and "a drop or two will do ya" just don't cut it for the Extreme Unction of the Son of God. You have to Break the Vase.

Kudos to Jim Caviezel for being willing to "Break the Vase".

Best, OP

The most important food Jesus offers is the Word of Life. Not a physical food but eternal.