THE WOMAN WHO ANOINTS JESUS
Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; Luke 7:36-50; John 12:1-8
As Jesus reclines at a table amongst His friends, a woman brings out a most precious and costly gift.
She pours out an alabaster jar of fragrant oil, anointing Jesus. Kissing and wiping his feet with her hair.
And with her tears.
Oil was a precious commodity. To pour out the entire alabaster jar would be considered waste or excess.
But this woman recognized the Messiah as worth every single drop.
No matter the ridicule. No matter the mockery or the condemnation. This woman shed all her pride to honor the most humble King.
She has done a beautiful thing.
The others in the room are outraged by this woman’s selfless act. Uncomfortable by such an outward display of abandonment.
All they see is a sinner wasting an extravagant and costly gift.
Jesus sees a repentant heart.
He tells her her many sins are forgiven, for she loved much.
Reprimanding those around Him, Jesus states that this posture of service was in preparation of His foretold death. Anointing his body beforehand for burial.
He declares that wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, her sacrifice would be told in memory of her.
This symbol of anointing was displayed to indicate God’s chosen vessels. David anointed king by Samuel. The Levitical priests anointed as a holy priesthood.
These were God’s chosen to be vessels poured out to do His will.
To be God’s chosen is costly. It is to live out a holy life. Consecrated, set apart.
Jesus was the chosen vessel that poured out love with every single drop of His blood.
"For in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Ephesians 1:7
This woman’s identity as a sinner had been wiped clean with just four words.
Your
sins
are
forgiven.
Her love was poured out in front of every person in that room.
Christ’s love was poured out for all to see when He hung on the cross
This woman gave a costly gift.
Jesus paid it all for the gift of eternal life.
Love is setting aside our own comfort.
Love is sacrifice.
Love is costly.
Love is a gift.
This is love.
~ Kissy Black