If you are a christian or go to church or know something about Holy Week, then you must know that today is Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified. And while the significance of the cross cannot be denied, I got stuck at a scene before the crucifixion as I read through the story that I have read more times than I will ever remember. Jesus is sitting with his disciples in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper and a woman (Mary, the sister of Lazarus) with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, walks in, pours the perfume on His head (John reports feet) and wipes his feet with her hair. The disciples, (John specifies, Judas) knowing the value of the perfume become indignant and chide her for the waste. Jesus responds and basically tells them not to bother the woman because she has done a beautiful thing and in so doing, prepared Him for his burial. He further reminds them that as a result of the woman’s act, she will be remembered everywhere the gospel is preached throughout the world.
As you probably imagine, there are countless visual demonstrations of this scene. Today, I wondered why the woman never said a word in return. What might have been going through her mind as she knelt next at His feet? Did she hear all the things that the disciples said? Did it matter what they thought and said? Why or why not? The more I thought about this the more sense the photo above made to me because I think it contains the clue to why she did not deem it necessary to pay attention to or respond to the things the disciples said. Did she even hear what Jesus said in her defense? What emotions did she experience? Although the Bible does not give us any answers to these questions, I found myself gaining a better understanding of the situation as I played that scene in my mind over and over again. In order for what I have to say about that moment to make any sense, we must begin from before that moment.
This woman, who was she? What did the alabaster jar of perfume mean to her? Did she struggle to get to that moment of willful sacrifice? Who was Jesus to her? While John clearly identifies the woman as Mary, Matthew and Mark simply call her, a woman. While there are variations in the three gospels that report this act, my aim is not to highlight those but to bring that woman from that day to ours today. Whether she was indeed Mary or just a woman, realize that (1) she was just a human being like you and I; (2) the perfume was very expensive; (3) She poured it all out on Him; (4) she poured it willingly.
I don’t know about you but when I read an account like this, I recognize the mirror of God’s word bringing to the surface some issues that need attention. While I always want to obey the Lord, if I am being honest, then I must admit that sometimes I let what others will think and say about my act of worship determine either whether I respond in obedience or how I respond. This woman had four options (1) prioritize pleasing both God and men; (2) prioritize pleasing men only; (3) prioritize pleasing herself; (4) prioritize pleasing God only. If she chose the first she could have pulled Jesus aside and poured the oil on Him and in so doing demonstrated her love for Him while avoiding the indignation the disciples felt and expressed towards her. If she chose to go with option number two, she could have avoided pouring the oil on Jesus altogether since the smell of the perfume would still offend the disciples. Option three would have seen her preserving the oil for her cosmetic and economic needs but she chose number 4. Her choice is what causes the photo above stand out to me. She shut out every other voice, including hers, and thus responded in obedience as she poured her love for Jesus from her alabaster jar.
I imagine that she struggled with the act of sacrifice she was led to make at some point or other. But she got to a place where she realized that her love for God prevented anything from being either too good or good enough to be given back to Him in gratitude. The oil, expensive as it was, could not compare with His love and soon to be sacrifice for her. We all eventually get to that place where we find that our joy and fulfillment lies in pleasing God alone even if people get offended by the nature and method of our worship. Cece Winans captured this very beautifully in the song Alabaster box which I have shared with you here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YksTJKm9hQ4
In His response to the disciples, Jesus said “she did what she could.” What is it that you can do and know you should do in response to His love today as we remember His ultimate sacrifice for us? What is holding you back? While it is true that there will always be opportunities to do good, some opportunities only come our way once. That was the reality of this woman. Unknowingly to her, her act of obedience took advantage of a once in a lifetime opportunity to leave her footprints in the sands of all time. Actually, every opportunity is unique in itself and that is why you must tune the voices of the world and all others out in order to get enraptured, like this woman, in God and His love. Will you?
Journey with Della 