The Jewish leaders’ animosity and
hostility against the Lord was reaching a climax. They were aware that they had
to seize Him soon if they were to avoid a riot. For Jerusalem was filled with
people during this Passover season. It is said that people from the surrounding
villages and various parts of the region would gather there to celebrate the
Passover, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The attendance could be as many as
three million people. They sensed the urgency as there was only two days left
before the celebration would begin, and they must act as soon as the opportunity
arose. The reason for their activities was because of their sense of threat to
their position. Why was Jesus a threat to them? Because how He lived and what
He taught was an affront to their system. Jesus’ teachings revealed their hypocrisy
and showed them as charlatans whose interest were merely themselves. Mark tells
us that their whole plan was carried out like a clandestine operation. It was
done stealthily and in secret. They wanted to seize and kill Him.
However, at another place the mood and
purpose was different. We are quickly brought to the home of Simon the leper in
Bethany. Jesus was invited to a meal in his house. While they were having the
meal, a woman brought her alabaster vial of costly perfume and broke it over
Jesus’ head. This act was an indication of her extreme love for Jesus. It was
obvious that she didn’t care who was looking at her. She was so consumed by her
love for Jesus that she must express it all. So she just bee-lined for Him and
poured the vial of costly perfume on His head. Perhaps she thought that others
would do the same if they loved the Lord. But alas it was not to be! For some
of those present were saying indignantly to each other, “Why has this perfume been
wasted?” They felt that it could be sold and the proceeds of the sales could then
be given to the poor. The amount calculated in today’s term would be around $30,000.
And they harshly rebuked her.
The Lord then came to her defense. He
saw beyond her act her love for Him. Who would have given up her whole life’s
savings if there’s no love? She had placed Him above anyone and anything. There
are so much that could be said of her action. She must have heard Jesus’ teaching
and knew what would soon be coming. So she came in advance to embalm the Lord
before His death and burial. What a passionate way to express love! Isn’t it
always better to show love when a person is alive than when he is gone? So the
Lord praised her and said that her act would be enacted whenever the Gospel is
preached. How so? What she did was exactly what our God had done. She gave her
best, so God also gave His best. “God so loved that He gave His only begotten
Son….” What she did was also what Christ had done. He gave His life for us. Her
action also signifies God’s gift of the Holy Spirit poured out on us.
Her story is a picture to show us what
must take place when a life is touched by the Gospel. She gave her best in
return to God. What do we value most in our lives? If we have been truly touched
by the Lord and His Gospel, nothing is too big to give up for Him. Nothing is
too costly to give to Him.
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