A Beautiful Fragrance

“And while He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head.

But some were indignantly remarking to one another, ‘Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denari, and the money given to the poor.’ And they were scolding her.

But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. For the poor you always have with you, and whenever you wish, you can do them good; but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, that also which this woman has done shall be spoken of in memory of her.’” Mark 14:3-9

As my Holy Week reflection continues, today I’ve been thinking about the woman who broke the alabaster jar of oil and anointed Jesus’ head. I challenge you to read this story and let it play out in your mind. Watch a table full of men become indignant when a woman not only dare to enter the room and  interrupt their luncheon, but then have the audacity to break a bottle of anointing perfume and pour it over the guest of honor’s head! Mark’s gospel leaves us asking questions about the identity of this woman and her relationship to Jesus and the other men present. Was she someone Jesus had interacted with previously? Did the disciples know her? What drew her to bring this extremely expensive vial to where Jesus was eating and anoint him?  

The men around the table were obviously bothered by her actions. What was it that made them uncomfortable? Was it the money “wasted” on Jesus by emptying this special anointing oil as Mark states, “why has this perfume been wasted?” We so often disguise our own discomfort behind religious facades or religious shaming instead of looking at the reason behind our own uneasiness. Were they bothered by a woman operating in a priestly role of anointing someone? Were they uncomfortable by the powerful smell of the perfume poured over their guest? Perhaps they were embarrassed on behalf of their guest since he is now soaked in oil? Or maybe they were indignant that they themselves hadn’t considered anointing Him? While we don’t know all the details behind the story, it’s fascinating to be quiet and let our minds wonder…

Interesting that Mark is clear about identifying the house as “the home of Simon the leper.” Is this perhaps one of the 10 lepers Jesus healed earlier? Isn’t it interesting that someone who has been healed can still (perhaps) be a person who shames another person’s actions? The Gospel of Mark doesn’t say who is “indignant;” it could be Simon the leper, Jesus’ disciples (not even mentioned) or other people at the table- we simply don’t know.  

My favorite line of Jesus' in this story is, "Leave her alone." I love how quickly Jesus silences the religious shaming and stops the mockery of the marginalized. He sees the heart of the woman and is pleased by her actions.

I created a Holy Week activity last week for the children and was reading this particular story and drawn to the element of the perfume. In preparation for my little activity, I purchased a small bottle of hyssop oil (nard is from a hyssop plant) for the children to put a drop on their wrist to smell it and think about having this oil covering their head.

In contemplating the perfume over the last few days I began to wonder how long the smell of the oil lingered on Jesus. I don’t think baths were daily occurrences in Jesus’ day, so is it possible that even on the cross the smell of this woman’s perfume lingered in the breeze. Activated by his sweat and mixed with his blood, this anointing aroma could have been a reminder to Jesus of the woman’s kindness – an added comfort to him in his dark hour.

As I think about aromas, I wonder what kind of aroma I am leaving. I’ve been through some things that have left me bitter and angry. The pain in my heart has turned my “aroma” into criticism and suspicion. My soul needs to be cleansed by the power of the Holy Spirit – only He can purify the toxins in my heart and purge me of built-up frustration and pain. I want to live a life of a pleasing aroma that brings comfort and a reminder of God’s incarnate presence with us. As I reflect on the power of lingering aroma, I am challenged to examine my heart, look at the ugliness I hide, and pray for God to continue His work in me.

 "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Thy presence, and do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit." ~ Psalm 51:10-11

Prayer. God, purify our hearts. As we consider this woman's anointing of Jesus' head, we pray you would cleanse us from bitterness, anger and pain. Let our aromas be sweet and bring comfort and peace to every person we talk to and every room we walk into. As this anointing perfume poured over Jesus a few days before His death, I pray the oil of Your Spirit would pour over our minds and soak into our hearts. We desire to be people of peace who leave your lingering presence wherever we go. Continue to heal us. Continue to transform us. Let the brokenness of our lives exude the joy of Your Spirit through Your powerful healing, restorative grace. Amen

Calling over Comfort

I was at school Thursday when I received news of a friend passing away. Our class took a short break so I took the opportunity to walk outside in the light midst of the rain.

As I passed by the Fresno Pacific Chapel I thought, "I should go in there. It's quiet. It's dry. And it's a safe place to reflect and be alone." Upon entry, however, there was a man inside kneeling at the front spending some time in prayer. I suddenly had this feeling I'd walked into a sacred place, I did not belong and I should not have opened the door.

I quietly closed the large, heavy door and retreated to my normal place, outside, behind the chapel. As an undergrad at Fresno Pacific there used to be large evergreen trees sheltering this little spot and I would journey here often to be alone and pray.

As I leaned against the brick wall, finding shelter from the falling rain, I felt at home and at peace knowing right on the other side of the wall was the "front" of the chapel, where I was going to pray, "I'm just on the other side," I thought to myself as I rested against the wall. God gently spoke to my heart and asked, "What are you doing outside?"

The question forced me to begin pondering how odd it was that I would rather sit outside where I was comfortable (in the rain) instead of the inside of the chapel. Was I that drawn to nature that I'd rather be outside? Perhaps. Is the Chapel just too stuffy and dark for my personality? Perhaps. Or is there a deeper feeling of inadequacy to enter going on? Perhaps.

I love my Old Testament. Through my personal study of my Bible as a teenager and into my 20's, I picked up on themes of women not measuring up - women being unclean, or even worse - downright villainous. King David can have an affair and kill the woman's husband and be forgiven, but Jezebel, oh, watch out! All women are like Jezebel! Samson can kill thousands of people and be honored, but Delilah, watch out! Never trust a woman - look what happened to poor Samson. Even Joseph was no match for Pottiphar's wife! Hm... I won't even begin with ceremonial cleansing practices. Reading it through a feminine lens can only mean between menstruation, childbirth, and "wifely duties," a woman is ridiculously unclean.

Whereas wicked deeds done by men are singled out as an anomaly of that particular person or situation, wicked deeds done by women are treated as a warning for men to be aware of the inherently evil characteristics of women. You may think I over-exaggerate too much. Perhaps.

I'm simply being honest with how the biblical text has shaped my view of women.

In my 30's I began reading texts differently, approaching these stories of women not as "representatives of my gender" but as warnings for all - male and female. I also began studying stories of "invisible" women who do not get mentioned in Bible Studies or Sunday mornings - Leah, Tamar, Hagar, Jael, Rehab, Ester, Ruth, Abigail... - so many awesome women who shaped history positively.

While I know "we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." It is still hard for me, as a woman, to feel like I can, "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace (in order to) receive mercy and...find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16)

Confidence is what is lacking.

The scriptures I have studied and experiences of my faith have brought me to the place of knowing I can approach God. I am invited into this sacred space. But yet I still choose the comfort of the outside wall. No matter how many people, male and female, tell me I'm silly to remain outside, I have an internal personal wrestling that continues to get the best of me.

Leaning on the wall, God spoke to my heart challenging me to choose calling over comfort.

I'm sure I am not alone in my feelings of inadequacies and I don't think this is solely a female thing, but instead a valuing issue. Do we, as followers of Christ, male and female, see our personal value and belovedness? Do we realize the treasure that is within us? How can I "love my neighbor" if I am not valuing myself? Sheesh!

It is a slow process to see our value and know we are loved by our Father God not by our performance, but by simply being His kids. Thankfully, God is for us and is with us in our transformation as we become more clearly His representatives on earth, more and more comfortable in our own skin.

Prayer: God, thank you for reminding me that You are calling me inside. Help me see my value and walk in places that might be uncomfortable. Challenge me to walk where You are calling me to walk. My heart's cry is to only go where Your Presence leads. Continue to make me lie down in green pastures, lead me beside quiet waters, and guide me in the paths of righteousness...so I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.