Matthew 26

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Matthew 26:6-13, While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.  When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.  When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

This chapter is the beginning of the passion narrative.  These are longer chapters but they are certainly worth reading carefully.  I’ve chosen for our focus verses some parts of the texts on which we typically don’t focus.

In today’s focus verses, we find Jesus being anointed for burial but certainly not in the typical way.  It would have been fairly normal, in first century Jewish society, to anoint a guest with oil when they came to your home for a meal or gathering.  It was an act of respect.  The host would typically use an inexpensive oil but in this narrative, we find the woman (other Gospels name her as Mary) uses a highly valued perfume.  She obviously saw Jesus as a very, very special guest worthy of only the best.  Remember, the word messiah means “anointed one” so there is symbolism going on here too.

The woman’s act of devotion is lost on the disciples.  They are rude and indignant.  “Why this waste?” they ask.  Giving the disciples the benefit of the doubt, we have to remember that they were very poor men.  It also gave them a chance to sound pious, “This should have been given to the poor!”  But Jesus knew all about the poor; he had been caring for the poorest of the poor throughout his ministry.  The disciples weren’t telling him anything he didn’t already know.   

But there is something going on here that goes much deeper than the disciples can even fathom.  Jesus rebukes the men and says that what she did for him was beautiful; she was preparing him for burial.  Of course, this is lost on them too.  While it’s possible that Mary had some insight into the danger that lie ahead for Jesus, it’s clear that the disciples still do not understand what is to come.   Mary’s act was one of honor and devotion.  Rather than being practical, she was extravagant toward her Lord and Savior.

How often do we act extravagantly toward Jesus OR are we more likely to simply be practical?

Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Help me love you and serve you with extravagance.  Help me worry less about practicalities and more about going above and beyond for your Kingdom.  In Your Name, Amen.