Monday, February 18, 2008
Do the right thing
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." (Mark14:3-9)
For the longest time, I've known this story to be a tale of abundant, overflowing worship for Jesus - a call for us to spare no less than our best for the Lord. Today, I look at that same woman with different eyes. No longer is she an inspiration for me to give excessively to God. Rather, she is a reminder that I should constantly do the right thing, even though it may feel so wrong in any given cultural context.
Here is a woman who is so Spirit-led that she is aware of Jesus' impending death, which in turn moved her to anoint his soon-to-be battered and beaten body. Here's a woman who's so convinced of her Saviour that she disregards the expensive oil wasting away with every drop. Here's a woman with so much love for Jesus that she is willing to stomach the weird glares and nasty remarks of those in the room.
This is the mark of a true disciple.
Hers is a duty which springs from her love and understanding of God. May we not hesitate to do the right thing in all circumstances, even though the expensive alabaster perfume may be dripping away - slowly, wastefully.
Posted by Jo at 11:02 PM
