The Anointing of Jesus

“The Anointing of Jesus”

Luke 7: 36-50      John 12:1-8

Two stories similar in nature but different in location and key character yet each story tells of faith and love for Jesus.

A sinful woman anoints Jesus at the home of a Pharisee. This woman is known to have lived a sinful life and when she learned that Jesus was at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume and after she cried upon his feet she poured the perfume on top of them and wiped his feet with her hair.
Mary, sister to Lazarus and Martha anoints Jesus in her Bethany home. During a dinner given in Jesus’ honour Mary took a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.

Two women showed their love and gratitude to Jesus for He had changed their lives Two women who loved Jesus as the one who had come from God . He saved one from a sinful life and showed her gratitude by anointing Jesus before his death. He also loved Mary and had raised her brother Lazarus from death and so she anointed him before his death as an act of gratitude and generosity.

Two women whose lives were changed by Jesus before He died. Two women who were grateful to Jesus’ receiving act of love to them. They were changed forever.

This is what happens when we encounter/ meet/ and put our faith in Jesus. Our lives are transformed in faith and our lives are open to new possibilities because Jesus cares for us. But not everyone liked what these women did in anointing Jesus.

At the Pharisee’s house, Simon needed to learn about the degree of forgiving love one needed for true faith. Judas argued that the Mary’s ointment could have been sold and money given to the poor. But Jesus uses these opportunities to tell of love and gratitude and generosity. He also teaches those watching this outpouring of love what it means to him. He was anointed before his death in love and thanksgiving.

We who know his story of life and death and resurrection now need to honour him with faith because Jesus rose from death for our sakes in order that we may be reconciled with God. Giving and pouring out our love means growing in our faith and knowing Jesus in a new way. How do you honour and show your love to Jesus?

As we prepare for Holy Week are we ready to commit ourselves anew to the living God – Jesus Christ and the Spirit who is with us? Are we ready to hear Jesus’ passion story and experience his death on the cross with new understanding?

Come and walk this journey to the cross and the empty tomb this Holy Week and Easter.

PRAYER:

As the unnamed woman and Mary poured out their love by anointing Jesus’ feet so we pour out our love through our prayers of thanksgiving and through our renewal of our faith. Help us to grow in faith, to seek new ideas and possibilities as we hear again Jesus’ story of love and passion. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

BLOG QUESTION: The story of Jesus’ anointing is done by two different women yet their act of  love was done to show their gratitude to Jesus to what he had already done for them. We do not know of other actions they took nor do we hear of the anointing women again in this context.

What are some ways of acting out of love and gratitude that you can perform or assess at this time regarding your love and faith in Jesus?