And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” Matthew 26: 6-13, NKJV.
Dear God, as we begin this Week of Reflection, we do it by looking at Your dealings with womanhood. We love You so much dear Father. Thanks for allowing us to be “remembered” as having a significant part in Your life while You were here on earth. We give You this praise in Jesus’ name! Amen.
A few days before He was crucified Jesus was invited to a feast in the house of Simon a leper, who had been healed by Jesus. Martha, the sister of Mary Magdalene was there. She was doing what was considered within the conventional duties of a woman in the time of Christ, and even in our time, in many societies – she “served” (John 12: 2). There is absolutely nothing wrong with serving. I enjoy serving. Jesus Himself said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10: 45). It is a privilege to serve others.
Nevertheless, like many women, Mary enjoyed doing other things that were not considered the “normal” behavior of a woman in the time of Christ. She enjoyed sitting at Jesus’ feet when He visited their home (Luke 10: 39); and as we see her doing at this feast in Simon’s house (John 12: 3). The men who were present did not see this as okay. It is quite likely that Martha did not see it as okay either; but Mary did. And, thank God – Jesus did also (Luke 10: 42)! As you can see, He says so in our Scripture for today, and memorialized it!
You see my friends, in Jesus’ day, as well as in ours, many people have lost sight of the fact that God created woman with a purpose. To make what is considered by many, “a man’s world,” a better, more friendly, loving, place to live. That is what our presence should do to any and every society. We are not here to do as we please, but as pleases our Lord Jesus Christ! We are not here to be treated by others as they please, but as God ordains. Our world does not understand how man and woman can be created in the image of God, because we attribute to Him characteristics based on gender, forgetting that He is God, and that He defies all limitations.
Men are supposed to be strong and rough and firm. Women are supposed to be weak and gentle and flexible. So we decide that God has to be one way or the other. But God will not be subjected to our limited concept of Him! He is God, the Great I Am, and His being, defies our best definitions! So God, working through women, will do things through, and in us, that most people will neither understand, nor agree with.
Many women seem to have a greater sense of discernment than most men. We tend to be very perceptive. Jesus had been telling His disciples that He was going to be killed. He told them that the time was drawing near. It seems they never “got it.” But somehow, Mary did. It is said that the alabaster box of spikenard that she poured on Jesus was worth a year’s wages (marginal reading)! This meant careful planning. From the moment she understood that the Lord of her life was going to die, she began saving her earnings in order to purchase the very best oil available to anoint Him – while He was alive. When He could smell it, appreciate it, and be blessed by it! Now, the Holy Spirit surely must have made her aware that the time had come. Because she was ready – she was able to act!
That is a wonderful way of making our world a better place in which to live – Give people their flowers while they can smell them! Jesus very lovingly, showed Lazarus the difference between the gratitude of a woman, and that of a man. This was not done to put him down, but to raise his concept of womanhood, and especially of this woman, which was not very high (Luke 7: 36-50)! *Even in His gentle rebuke to Simon He was showing Him love and reaching out to him – for in the sight of the Savior, we are all precious!
Jesus appreciated this kindness so much that He promised, “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” ‘ “