Reflecting the Image

Scripture:

Matthew 26:6–13

6 Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. 8 But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, “Why this waste? 9 For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum and the money given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.” (NRSVUE)

Observation:

A woman, whose name Matthew does not give us, comes to Jesus while He is at the home of Simon the leper in Bethany.

What she brings with her is very special. She has an alabaster jar filled with very expensive ointment.

And then she does something remarkable.

She pours it on Jesus’ head as He sits at the table.

The reaction of the disciples is fascinating. They are not pleased by the action of this woman. Instead, they become angry.

What they see is waste.

Why would anyone pour out something so valuable when it could have been sold for a large sum of money and given to the poor?

But Jesus sees her action very differently.

“Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me.”

Then He reminds them that they will always have opportunities to minister to the poor, but they will not always have this opportunity to minister to Him.

The disciples still seem unable to comprehend what is about to happen to Jesus. Yet He tells them that this woman, by pouring the ointment on His body, has prepared Him for burial.

Her act of extravagant devotion has become part of something much larger than herself.

Jesus is moving toward the cross.

His death and resurrection will become good news for the whole world.

And this unnamed woman, who poured out something precious upon Jesus, will be remembered wherever that good news is proclaimed.

Application:

I travel a lot.

That’s probably an understatement.

I travel more than 150,000 miles a year and spend a lot of time in airports. One of my little habits is to walk through Duty Free and try out the perfume samples. Sometimes it’s just for fun, and sometimes it feels necessary if I’ve been in the same clothes for far too long!

I love trying the free samples because perfume is expensive!

Even a small bottle today can cost more than $100.

Perfume was expensive in Jesus’ day, too.

And there were no free samples at Duty Free.

What this woman did was sacrificial. Her actions reveal the depth of her love for Jesus. We can imagine that this ointment represented something very precious to her.

And she poured it out on Jesus.

She didn’t measure out just enough.

She didn’t save some for later.

She lavished it on Him.

One gift.

Extravagant giving.

Obedience in a moment.

Remembered through the ages.

How much did she understand about what she was doing that day?

We don’t know.

Perhaps she understood more than anyone realized. Perhaps she was simply responding out of profound love and devotion to Jesus.

But Jesus saw significance in her offering that others could not see.

Her act of obedience became part of something much larger than herself.

That makes me wonder about our own offerings to the Lord.

What might our gift be?

What precious thing might we be tempted to hold onto?

How might we pour ourselves out in generous obedience to our Savior?

We may not always understand what God will do with our acts of obedience. What seems like one small moment of faithfulness may become part of something we cannot yet see.

And perhaps, as we respond to the Lord with open hands and open hearts, we will discover ourselves participating in the movement of His Holy Spirit and being carried into purposes much larger than ourselves.

The woman poured out what she had.

Jesus received it.

And the fragrance of her offering has lingered through the ages.

Prayer:

Lord, give me a spirit of generosity toward You and Your kingdom. Keep me from holding tightly to what You are asking me to pour out. Give me the heart of this woman—a heart filled with love for You and willing to respond in obedience. May all that I offer become part of Your purposes in this world. Amen.