Holy Week ... Wednesday
In the hours that elapsed between Jesus cursing the fig tree and the preparation for the Passover celebration, Jesus stayed busy teaching and ministering in Jerusalem. Matthew devotes four chapters (Matthew 22-25) to these events and instructions. At some point, Jesus retreated to Bethany to spend some quiet hours with His disciples. (Matthew 26)
At the gathering that evening, Jesus dined, rested, and enjoyed the company of beloved friends. While Jesus reclined at the table, a most perplexing incident occurred.
A woman approached her Lord and proceeded to anoint Him with oil.
Now, Kings and Priests in the Old Testament were anointed. That is, they were symbolically marked with oil, signifying the presence of God’s Spirit upon them as they were ordained to their specific calling.
And dead people were anointed! To mask the putrid stench of death and decay, a corpse was doused with fragrant oil.
Obviously, the woman knew a thing or two!
She knew that Jesus was both High and Holy Priest, and He was King above of all other kings! And she knew that He would soon be dead! (Mark 14:8) Soon, Jesus would proceed to the cross to pay the exorbitant price of our pardon!
She got it right!
There’s one more significant lesson to learn. She was without reserve in her worship! The alabaster jar of anointing oil was valued at 300 denarii. (Mark 14:5; John 12:5) A single denarii was the wage a laborer earned in a day... 300 was a year’s wages! What’s that make it? Thirty-thousand dollars, or more? She was generous with Jesus!
To borrow Steve Green’s lyrics: Her most precious treasure was broken and spilled out, and poured at His feet.
Why?
She spared no expense... because God spared no expense for her pardon... He, Jesus, would soon be broken and spilled out for her ... and each of us!
Jesus is worthy of our extravagant worship! Our time, our talents, and our tithes, should be lavished on Him!