Being honored at any event is always memorable. Reflecting that honor to another is life changing.
Easter week causes me to ponder the days before Christ was sacrificed. A few days before the last supper Jesus was given a dinner in His honor. Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead was there along with the disciples. Martha was busy serving with huffs, sighs and directives. Mary was silent while she helped serve.
Yet when the guests remained reclined at the table, Mary took her normal position at Jesus’ feet. All the men ignored her until they smelled the lush perfume when Mary opened the alabaster jar. With the eyes of each man growing wider and wider, they were stunned into silence as Mary poured the expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet then watched in amazement as Mary wiped His feet with her hair.
Indignation broke the silence when one disciple grumbled, “Why this waste of perfume?” Then murmurs of agreement mixed with the sweet fragrance that the perfume could have been sold to give money to the poor.
Jesus hushed the men with His words. “Leave her alone. She has done a beautiful thing to me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.” Then He anointed Mary with these words, “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will be told, in memory of her.”
One was anointed with honorable action. The other was anointed with promising words. We are all anointed when we do what we can. Some of us can offer just a cup of tea-coffee while others can fill a tablescape with a bounty of savories. It doesn’t matter which, when the heart of the giver does so out of love for the anointed life-changing redeemer.
May you be blessed as your pour a cup of brew and ponder the memorable anointing by a woman who did what she could do for her Savior.
Happy Easter! John 12:1-3, Mark 14:4-9
