FRAGRANT DEVOTION OR STINKING TREACHERY

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. ³⁸ As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

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³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Luke 7:36-39

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³ Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” ⁶ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

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⁷“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. ⁸ You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” John 12:1-8

Two stories…two women. One was a woman of the streets, a prostitute, if you will, the other a fervent worshipper of Jesus.

Jesus was reclining at the dinner table with Simon, the Leper. (Since leprosy made a person unclean, had Simon perhaps been a recipient of Jesus’ healing power so that he was no longer an untouchable outcast? Was this dinner an expression of gratitude for a new life?)

An unnamed woman gate-crashed the party – other gospels identify her as an unsavoury character whom the present company despised. Undaunted by the hostile looks, she did what she came to do – she broke her most treasured possession, an alabaster jar of costly nard, and poured the contents on Jesus’ feet As the oil soaked His sandaled feet and dripped onto the floor, its fragrance filled the room and for a moment the guests were stunned.

Simon, the Pharisee leper was annoyed. How could Jesus, the prophet, allow this. Surely, He knew who this woman was, a well-known prostitute on the town, an “untouchable”, according to the religious ones.

Then a buzz broke out, murmuring voices rising in volume until this protest could be heard, “What a waste! Why didn’t she sell it and give the money to the poor?” Whose voice was the loudest – Judas’ Iscariot’s, the thief and traitor! ….

Another dinner scene, this time in the home of friends. Lazarus had died and been miraculously raised from the tomb after four days. Jesus was an honoured guest in his home. This time it was Mary, Lazarus’ sister, overcome with love for her Master, who fell at His feet and discharged her dowry of nard on His feet.

According to John 12:4, it was Judas who voiced his objection to the waste.

Jesus was outraged. Who really cared about the poor – not Judas, not even all Simon’s wealthy dinner guests? Was it the woman’s sacrificial love that enraged them? Did they condemn her for showing them up, even the disciples?

Jesus jumped to her defense. “Leave her alone,“ He thundered. “Don’t you dare criticise her extravagant devotion to me! What she has done will never be forgotten – throughout the whole world for all time, right alongside me and my death.”

Were Jesus’ words pointed at Judas? Was it this public rebuke that tipped him over the edge? He left the party immediately, burning with rage, to sell Jesus out to His enemies.

Two people, two actions, two legacies.

This is the only time Jesus ever personally and verbally memorialised anyone for any deed during His time on earth. Both the unnamed woman and Mary are remembered in every copy of the Scriptures in every language throughout the whole world for all time, and every reader feels the warmth of their love for Jesus and His tender response to their worship. We feel His sympathy for them and perhaps even secretly enjoy His rebuke of the heartless men who tried to insult them.

We remember Judas too, not because we want to, but because we can’t help it. He has also been immortalised in every copy of the Scriptures in every language for all time, but we remember him, not for his devotion but for his callous treachery of the Master with whom he walked for three and a half years.

How would you, how would I like to be remembered, even for a few years after our passing? As an extravagant lover of Jesus, as a dutiful servant who worked ourselves to death, or as a turncoat, who walked away from Him because He did not give us what we wanted?

The choice is ours!