Mark 14:1-11
- Priests and scribes are plotting to kill Jesus, but they don't think they should do it yet because there are so many people around for the Passover and they don't want a riot (so what changes their mind in 2 days? or was this just a small group of dissenters and the rest were ready to get on with the killing?).
- In the meantime, Jesus is at Simon the leper's home (someone he healed? I don't think he'd still be at home if he still had leprosy), and a woman comes in and pours costly perfume on his head. Really, really expensive perfume. Which seems silly, doesn't it? That you would use up your life savings pouring it over the head of a man who will die in a couple days. Even if you don't know he's gonna die, it still seems like overkill. My practical streak is crying out like the others in the house did - why? why not use it for the poor? or for your own security? But Jesus tells them to leave her alone. And here is the line I sometimes hear quoted when people are trying to justify that people are poor: Jesus says, "For you always have the poor with you..." But here's the line I don't hear quoted: "and whenever you wish you can do good to them." Whenever you wish. Which seems to suggest they're not wishing it very often. So their "you should've used it for the poor" complaint is hypocritical.
- But the woman: "She has done what she could." She has shown a kind of extravagant love for this man, abandoning practicality. Forsaking fear. She is bold and brave and does a beautiful thing despite the censure she must know she'll get for it. Bold, brave and determined. I wish I were more like her.
- And then Judas leaves to betray Jesus. Makes me wonder if he was so offended by this woman that he decides to do it now. What was he thinking?
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