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