The Ointment
Ah, the ointment and the anointing! The wedding and the burial?
Luk 7:37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
7:38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
7:39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is who toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
:40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
:41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
7:42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most?
7:43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
Luk 7:44 And he turned to the woman and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
:45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
7:46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven;
for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
:48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
Hum interesting thought and incident here! Jesus visits the home of an individual and is treated casually and judgmentally. By of all people a rich Pharisee. While on the other hand a lowly, shunned, shamed and ostracized prostitute honors, worships, and ministers to him. Giving what is precious to her to him! Her valued alabaster ointment which was to be saved for her anointing at her marriage and her burial at death hence to lose the ointment would be like closing the door on her future. Yet what she chose to do and show us, so many of us miss the point here? She was saying she recognized Jesus was her groom and this was the anointing of her marriage to her Savior Jesus, and that this was also the anointing of her declaration of death, death to sin, self and carnality and her newfound life in Christ. And besides that, she shows us another lesson:
In which she chose to fulfill the obligations or duties of others at her cost. That Jesus might be ministered to at his point of need! You see the custom or tradition was that the owner of a home was a visitor was invited.
It was the responsibility of the owner to see that his visitors’ feet were washed and head anointed. If not by the owner, then his wife followed by a servant if the wife was unable/unwilling. Yet while claiming to honor Jesus none of these practices were followed. Jesus said it so appropriately “ these people honor me with their mouth but their heart is far from me”
Yet I to must-see my complicity and neglect if not guilt in this scenario? Follow me, How many times have I invited Jesus into my home, ( my house, my heart, my life, my church etc.) and how many times have I neglected the practice of washing his feet and anointing his head, How many times has he had my words but not my actions? My presence but not my heart? How many times have I come into his presence with worship and adoration? Instead of demands and accusations? How many times have I complimented him rather than complained? How many times have I offered gratitude rather than attitude? By the way, have I asked myself lately what am I doing with my alabaster ointment? Who am I saving it for?
