Jesus told us to tell her story.
Contrary to today’s anthem, “It’s not my story to tell,” Jesus says, “This IS YOUR STORY to tell.”
Three out of the four gospels record what He said (Matthew 26, Mark 14, John 12).
It wasn’t a direct command, but indirect.
He gives us permission to speak this story as often as possible…
Why?
Because this woman sets a standard.
But, I’ve gotten ahead of myself.
We need all three gospels to give us the whole picture.
Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem.
He’d been avoiding it, 1) all the religious leaders were seeking to kill Him; 2) it wasn’t the time of His passion………………..yet.
So, six days before Passover, Jesus went to Bethany.
We know about Bethany: home of Lazarus (whom Jesus raised from the dead); Martha (the woman of “much serving”); and, Mary (the woman of “one thing,” who loved to sit at Jesus’ feet). It’s also where Jesus cursed the fig tree.
What we might not know about Bethany, but what I recently learned, is that, while the name means “house of dates,” it also is known as “the house of misery/affliction.”
It seems that this was a small village, where a number of very ill people went to live and be cared for, which explains why Lazarus may have “become sick unto death.”
Lazarus and his sisters were care-givers.
Jesus had a heart for care-givers.
I believe He was extremely tender to those who would reach out to the hurting. Because those who would actually touch the afflicted, were rare in that culture. Rare in any culture…and every time period.
The sick and infirm were often avoided. Ignored. Invisible.
Maybe that’s why Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters so very much.
There was this simple heart-connection between them.
When Jesus arrives in Bethany, Simon (a leper from Bethany, whom Jesus healed) throws a party in Jesus’ honor.
Lazarus is there, on one side of Jesus.
Simon, the host, on the other.
Martha was there, as well…………and, the story makes it clear that she is doing what she does best: SERVING!
I believe she had learned her lesson.
Those who were at this celebration were there to love on Jesus, because He had loved on them.
He’d healed in their midst….
….raised one of their own from death back to life…
…forgiven sins….
…wept over Jerusalem…
…set captives free from shame…
…raised the honor of the honor-less!
This crowd didn’t know that in six days, Jesus would be hanging on a cross.
They weren’t aware of “how-much-more” the Son of God would sacrifice for them.
But, they were clear on one thing:
AND, MARY?
She wanted to express her love as well.
For Mary, Jesus meant the world, and I believe as she tried, almost in vain, to conjure up a way to show her overwhelming heart of love and appreciation to Jesus, she could only think of one thing (because, after all, she was a woman of one-thing).
She would give to Jesus the only thing of any value she had.
It was priceless.
Of great worth.
But, so was Jesus…SO! MUCH! MORE!
Judas, ever the self-righteous one, said, “But, Master, that alabaster jar of oil is worth an entire year of wages! Think of all the poor that we could feed if we sold it…”
However, sometime during the meal, as Jesus reclined at the table before Him, she came.
She broke the seal of the jar.
Poured the oil on his head, and on his feet, using her long hair as nothing more than a rag to wipe her Lord’s feet.
Jesus, knowing that Judas was speaking for many in the crowd, quickly rose to her defense.
“The poor you will always have with you; not so, me… This woman has done what she could; given out of a deep-seated heart-felt need; and in doing so, she has anointed my body for burial. Leave her alone…but tell her story, whenever the gospel story is told…memorialize it!”
Why would Jesus want this one act to be shared in connection with the gospel message?
Easy.
Mary’s picture of Jesus as the Son of God was incomplete (soon to be made whole), but with what she knew of Jesus in that moment was that He was all love…and, all she could do in response was to love Him back…
lavishly,
generously,
sacrificially.
What a Lenten consideration!
When all is said and done:
How about telling a little love story???