Pour the
Perfume
This
morning, as we consider this account of Mary, Martha’s sister, anointing Jesus
with costly perfume I ask us to remember something about scripture that is
often either forgotten or overlooked. Most of the characters mentioned in scripture
were REAL flesh and blood people. They were REAL people who had hopes and
fears, people who gave love and received love. They were simple human beings
not unlike you and me.
Because
scripture records on a grand scale the great drama of God’s interaction with
God’s creation we have an understandable tendency to see the people mentioned
in scripture as larger than life. So, it is easy to overlook their human
character.
Today’s
gospel lesson is an excellent example of this. Within the overall context of
John’s gospel this story marks the beginning of Jesus’ journey to the cross.
Verse 1 in Chapter 12 frames the setting for us; “Six days before the Passover Jesus came to
Therefore,
because of its location and the subsequent events in the gospel, this story is
often thought of as a story of Mary anointing Jesus for his burial in six days.
Seen from a grand theological perspective that may very well be true, however,
this story also communicates something else. Something which is much more
personal and easier for us to grasp; Mary loved Jesus as her dear friend.
While this story may indeed serve to advance the larger story of John’s gospel,
it just as surely is also a revealing insight into how much people loved Jesus
as a person. There were people close to our Lord who loved him not unlike how
we love and hold affection for our dearest friends.
Seen
from this perspective, then, how does this story speak to us? It tells us that
we are called to love Jesus Christ so much that we offer him our very best.
We are called to do this not out of a sense of duty or obligation, although
these things are a part of our discipleship. Rather, we are called to offer
Jesus Christ our very best out of a sense of joyful thanksgiving, expressing
the joy we feel in our hearts for the relationship we have with Jesus Christ.
Let
us keep in mind the context for this story. It is a party given by Martha
honoring Jesus. Parties are times of joy. Jesus’ friends were happy he had come
to
The
other thing to keep in mind about this story is what Mary used to show her
affection and love to Jesus: Perfumed oil. In the culture of first century
Why
did Mary feel so strongly about this itinerant preacher from the hinterlands of
Trying
to answer these questions is somewhat dangerous because to some degree we must
try to put 2 and 2 together and hope it equals 4. The gospels do not offer much
information about Jesus’ personal life, or about the lives of those around him.
However, there are some things we can point to which allow us to make some
reasoned guesses about why Mary felt so strongly about Jesus.
The
first and foremost reason we can point to is the case of her brother Lazarus.
He had died. In fact, Lazarus was in the tomb for four days before Jesus came
and brought him back from the dead. Given that Jesus had restored Lazarus’
life, from a purely human perspective, Mary’s adoration and affection for Jesus
is completely understandable. This friend of hers had demonstrated to her that
he had power over life and death. Giving him her very best seems only natural.
Another
part of why Mary felt so strongly about Jesus is how he obviously treated women
as real people, deserving of the same respect and attention as men. In their
society women had virtually no standing in either politics or in religious
circles. Yet, in many stories in the gospels, Jesus is portrayed as having a
great deal of love and respect for women. In John’s gospel alone think of the
woman at the well in chapter 4, think of the woman accused of adultery in
chapter 8. And in the other gospels think how Jesus repeatedly accepted women
sidelined by polite society and fellowshipped publicly with them. Is it any
wonder Mary would feel grateful and affectionate toward this preacher who
accepted her, and other women, as real people in both his sight and in God’s?
Setting
aside for the moment whether Mary actually understood and knew Jesus Christ as
her savior at the time she anointed him with perfume, she nonetheless loved him
for his gentleness, his kindness, and his loving approach to all people.
Do we,
people who have the added benefit of standing this side of the resurrection
appreciate, understand, and value Jesus Christ for these qualities? Qualities
we no doubt seek out and value in our human friendships. Moreover, are we
giving our very best to our friend who was willing to die for us?
I want to
share with you an experience I had of someone giving me their very best. A long
time ago, Leslie and I went to
On this
trip we were in effect ambassadors for Jesus Christ, sharing the good news of
the gospel. While we were in Carron Hall, our group was divided up into 2’s and
3’s and we lived in the homes of local church people.
Well, we
arrived at Carron Hall late on a Saturday night. The next morning our group
gathered and went to church together. After church, we returned to our assigned
homes for the mid-day meal.
My
roommate Jeff and I walked into the house of our hostess, tired from the
previous day’s journey and hot from walking in the noon-time tropical heat as
we returned from church. We were immediately overcome by a powerful, and not particularly
pleasing, aroma wafting out of the kitchen.
Sight
unseen, our hostess’ voice greeted us from the kitchen telling us that she had
a cool drink waiting for us in our bedroom, and to come to the table when we
were ready to eat.
Eager for
refreshment, I dashed into my room. There on the dresser sat a tall glass with
my cool drink in it. I grabbed at it. Glancing down before taking a drink, I
was stunned by what I saw.
In the
glass was a milky looking liquid with what I later figured out was sweet
condensed milk. Floating in the liquid were cornflakes. Topping off this sweet
and sugary surprise were sprinkles of nutmeg floating at the top.
Despite
the unusual combinations of ingredients, its sickly sweet flavor, and the
unpleasant sensation of drinking cereal, I quickly figured out that this woman
had offered us a very special drink. In her mind, this was a special treat. She
had given us the very best refreshment she could imagine.
So, in
order not to offend we drank it down and hurried off to the table. Our hostess
heard us sitting down and began to bring out our lunch. First some bread, then
some smoked pieces of fish, and then, she proudly carried out 2 bowls of soup.
As she sat them down in front of us, she explained that the soup was called
OCKE`, fish soup, a Jamaican specialty. It was filled with spices, vegetables,
and fish.
By the
aroma, I was dubious about whether I would like this soup. However, I politely
lifted my spoon to eat. As I looked into the soup, I realized that the soup
was looking back at me. You see, the recipe for OCKE` includes using the
entire fish, including the eyeballs. Despite its unusual ingredients and
spices, I knew that our hostess had made us something quite special. In fact, given
her quite limited resources it was the most extravagant offering she could make
to us.
You see, in
her eyes, we represented her Lord Jesus Christ, and she was going to offer him
only the very best she could. Our hostess had stayed home from church that day
in order to prepare for us the very best meal she could offer. So, despite the soup’s
unappetizing aroma and questionable fish parts, I understood she had made a
generous offering to us. Not because she liked us, not because we were
visitors, but because we represented Jesus Christ to her. Not unlike Mary in
our gospel story, she gave a meaningful offering out of love for Jesus Christ.
We are
called to give Jesus Christ our very best. We are called to offer Jesus Christ
the very best we can offer. Mary gave Jesus her very best, are we ready to
follow her lead?
As this
season of Lent and this season of repentance gives way to the joy of Easter
morning let us examine where in our lives we are giving Jesus Christ our very
best. Or, where we are not? Do we give him our best in worship? Or, do we just
go through the motions? Do we give him our best in our relationships with
others? Or, do we seek our desires and wants at the expense of others? Do we
follow him when it is costly to us, or only when it is convenient.
Following
the dedication and commitment of Mary, let us strive to “pour the perfume” in
every area of our lives. Our Lord Jesus Christ has given everything for us. Let
us then break out the perfume in our lives and pour it liberally over all,
rejoicing in our relationship with the one who was willing to give everything
for us: Our Lord Jesus Christ. So may it be for us. AMEN
Reverend Marc V. Mason
March 25, 2007
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Travelers Rest, SC