MARK 14:3
3 While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head.
It is two days before the Feast of Unleavened Bread. According to the Internet, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was “The first of the three major annual festivals of the Israelites. It began on Nisan 15, the day after Passover, and continued for seven days. Only unleavened bread could be eaten, in remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt.“ I’m sure people were busy getting ready for the festival. My children would have been delighted to have chapatis for seven days plus special story telling. I can imagine that it might not be that different from our preparations for Christmas or Easter, special foods and focus on traditions. An unnamed woman comes into the home of Simon “the leper.” Jesus and his followers are eating with a man cured of leprosy. I imagine Simon was deeply grateful that he was no longer ostracized and could eat with friends. The unnamed woman is grateful also. She brings a jar of nard and anoints Jesus’ head.
Simon gave a feast and invited friends he had been alienated from because of leprosy. The woman bought a valuable jar of perfume to anoint Jesus. We can debate the who-s in the story but the people objected to so costly a gift that could have been sold and the money used to help the poor. Jesus rebuke’s their criticism and accepts her gift even as he accepted the invitation of eat with a former leper — even as he accepts relationship with us sinners.
Maybe your Easter celebration will not involve perfume or a big meal, but let us ponder what we bring with us this Easter as an expression of gratitude for the work of God in our lives. How will you express gratitude for Jesus’ healing work in your soul? Take a moment and ponder. Blessings.
On the Way to Wonder 