Two separate sections; two
"reckless" stories.
The time draws near for a
major festival as well as a minor festival combined over an eight-day period:
Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Jerusalem will be overrun with
pilgrims. Especially during this remembrance, a nationalist feeling intensifies.
How so? Historically, the
crowds arrived to celebrate their release from bondage in Egypt (Exodus 12:1 - 13:16). And now,… the people longed for another deliverance -- from Rome.
The Roman governor was so
anxious, "special detachments of troops were drafted into Jerusalem and
quartered in the Tower of Antonia which overlooked the Temple." [i] Great measures were taken
to discourage an uprising.
Did You
Know…?
"During the Passover,
all lodging was free. Jerusalem could not hold the crowds, and Bethany and
Bethphage were two of the outlying villages where pilgrims lodged." [ii]
However another type of
uprising had occurred -- in the hearts and minds of the chief priests and the
elders who gathered at the palace of the high priest Caiaphas. Jesus had to be
arrested and killed but quick. Easier said than done, as this particular situation
was rather sticky.
"After his arrest,
there must be a trial. But the religious laws state that no trials can be held
during Passover, and none can be held at night. Making matters even more
pressing is the religious stipulation that if a death penalty is ordered, a
full night must pass before the sentence can be carried out." [iii] Time was of the essence
and reckless behavior was required. The arrest must be an act of stealth.
Juxtaposed against this
story of hatred (and eventual betrayal) is one of love and devotion.
Within Mark's telling is
simplicity, also found in Matthew 26:6-13.
The notable difference is "some"
were "disciples." John 12:1-7
expounds further on the story with slight variations, while the fourth Gospel
-- Luke 7:36-50 -- shares an entirely different anointing scenario altogether.
Regardless of the telling
in the Gospels, reckless action boldly lives.
Jesus and his disciples
were at the house of Simon the (healed) leper in the village of Bethany. There,
a woman broke open an alabaster jar of expensive ointment of nard and anointed
Jesus with its contents.
"This phial held a
very precious ointment made from a rare plant." [iv] "The ointment was
scented with the flower of spikenard, which grows in the Himalayan
region." [v]
The worth of the ointment
of nard was "more than 300
denarii." For a common laborer, one denarius was a day's wage. More
than 300 denarii would represent almost a year's worth of work for such a
person. What was this woman thinking?!?
That question was angrily
bandied about by some of the disciples, and they turned on the woman. Jesus intervened.
"Let her alone; why do you trouble her?"
What bothered the men was both
the extravagance and the waste. This woman took it upon herself to pour out all
of the ointment. She could've simply poured out a few drops on the head of
Jesus. That was the custom of the day. Instead, look what she did! Consider
what good could come from 300 denarii which could've helped the poor.
"Let's not forget that, Jesus!"
Jesus hadn't forgotten.
"You always have the poor with you,..."
Seems rather callous if
his words ended there, but they don't. "…and
you can show kindness to them whenever you wish."
He continues with, "But you will not always have me." On several occasions, Jesus has told his
disciples that he will die. While the disciples will have time to serve the
poor, their time to serve Jesus ends soon.
Paraphrasing, Jesus says,
"Look at how this woman has served me. With unselfish, unconditional extravagance.
With recklessness." "She has
done what she could."
How often in our own lives
have we had the opportunity to do something which we were moved to do, but didn't?
That gnawing impulse is left as… an impulse. Could've, would've, should've. Where
is our reckless, loving action?
As for the woman, why
didn't Mark name her? Was it because Mark wanted her to represent all
"unnamed" women?
Who truly understood the magnitude
of this woman's devoted act? Jesus tells them, "She has anointed my body beforehand for its burial." But that's not the way it was supposed to be done.
After death, bodies would be prepared in such a way. It makes no sense.
Right?
Contrast this anointing of
Jesus before his burial to Mark 16:1-8.
It is then three "named" women attempt to anoint Jesus' body, unsuccessfully.
Where three
"named" failed, one "unnamed" succeeded. Jesus knew what
was to come and understood the magnitude of this woman's act of recklessness.
NEXT
Judas Iscariot -- reckless
continues
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