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Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as ge sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, to what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

 

Much is going on here. Just starting with the fact that Jesus went into the house of a leper. That in is self is a violation of the laws the Jews were finding important. But, for us, Jesus went to those who many rejected. Then comes this woman to anoint him. Notice she did it during the main entree' of the meal. And she did it starting on top of his head. Therefore, his entire body would be covered. This is a symbol of his death and her servanthood to him. That explains the last verse.

 

There is a legend that it was Judas who started griping of the cost of the ointment and how it could have been given to help the poor. Some have written that Judas had ideas to sell the ointment and alabaster box to keep the profit for himself. But the written word does use disciples as plural. Therefore, it was more than one person in the mix.

 

Jesus makes a profound statement that is true to this day. We continue to have the poor amongst us. However, was it a person who is physically poor or one who is spiritually poor? A lack of faith can move a person to be poor in their lives. Also. Paul wrote of those who are spiritually fed with either milk or meat. Which one are you being fed with? This could be a reference to what Jesus was having when the woman anointed him. Her eyes saw the messiah. She knew exactly what she was doing. And Jesus too knew this and foresaw the outcome.

 

Jesus also makes note to the disciples of what they see as important is really not. "Why trouble ye the woman?" he askes them. He then shows them greater things of importance. He also states that he will not be in their midst for much longer. It makes me wonder if they even heard him say that or were they overly obsessed with the situation. Another unanswered mystery.

 

Lord, feed us your word each day that we may grow in the love of the risen Christ. Amen!

 

Russ Nixon

rwnixon57@yahoo.com