Matthew 26:6-13 NCV
Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon, who
had the skin disease. While Jesus was there, a
woman approached him with an alabaster jar filled
with expensive perfume. She poured this perfume
on Jesus' head while he was eating. His followers
were upset when they saw the woman do this. They
asked, "Why waste that perfume? It could have been
sold for a great deal of money and the money given
to the poor." Knowing what had happened, Jesus said,
"Why are you troubling this woman? She did an excellent
thing for me. You will always have the poor with you,
but you will not always have me. This woman poured
perfume on my body to prepare for burial. I tell you
the truth, wherever the GOOD NEWS is preached in all
the world, what this woman has done will be told, and
the people will remember her."
Dorothy:
What is it that this woman had done that made Jesus
said that people will remember her wherever the GOOD
NEWS is preached? All she did was poured perfume on
Jesus' head. What was so special about this? Two things:
First, the woman took the most precious thing she had
and poured it out on Jesus. (Jewish women were very fond
of perfume; and often they carried a little alabaster
phial of it around their necks. Such perfume was very
valuable. Both Mark and John make the disciples say that
the perfume could have been sold for 300 denarii which
means that this phial of perfume represented very nearly
whole year's wages for a working man. Note:Barclay series)
Second, her action represented her deep love for Jesus and
Jesus understood her. It takes insight to grasp this meaning
where disciples failed to see this. Later, they learned and
Mark and John also mentioned this in their GOSPEL, the GOOD
NEWS about her. What can we learn from this? I found a song
that would fit the character of this woman.
Song: "All That Thrills My Soul"
Who can cheer the heart like Jesus, By His presence all divine?
True and tender, pure and precious, Oh, how blest to call Him Mine!
All that thrills my soul is Jesus; He is more than life to me;
And the fairest of ten thousand, In my blessed Lord I see.
