“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. ‘Why this waste?’ they asked. 9 ‘This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.’ 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.’” Matthew 26.6-13
We have read this week of the woman of Bethany coming to Jesus just before He will be betrayed, have the last supper with the disciples, be denied by Peter, pray in the garden, and soon be arrested and crucified. This woman has faith and love to see Jesus. She offers the highest honor in these days, the anointing of the head as an expression of pure love. Where true love is offered towards Christ, nothing would be considered to be too much love or not enough.
What was seen as beautiful, as attentive, as good and right in the sight of Jesus was seen as a “waste” in the sight of His very own disciples. Still with Jesus in their very midst, there was great misunderstanding of how to live out love. Perhaps one way to live out such love is to release the need to judge how others are expressing love and service in the name and honor of Jesus Christ.
What had the disciples missed seeing? What are we missing? Maybe better yet, why? Author Roberta Bondi says, “Loving is natural; it is unnatural not to love. Of course, most human beings fail to love or love badly a lot of the time. This is because we are dominated by the fear of death and of our own physical and emotional vulnerability, and by our ways of compensating for this fear. We need power over other people. We are afraid of the future. We suffer from envy, resentments, depression, hyperactivity, and boredom.”
Today, we live on this side of the cross. Today, the preparation that we read of in Matthew 26 has taken place. The death of Christ has taken place for every sin of all humanity. It’s happened. Resurrection has come, offering us the very act of love to believe in. We believe this truth is true. This is such a beautiful thing He has done for us. May we live in the belief that we are loved, and then allow love to pour through us.
Reflection:
- What would be your perception of this woman had you been on the scene?
- Where do you see the beautiful expression of Jesus’ love in your life?
- “There is no fear in love.” What would it look like to live more fully into this truth?
Pray Colossians 3.12-17
“12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
