Nothing but love

In Mark 14:1-9, we read about an encounter that is at the same time famous and mysterious.

Jesus is reclining at table at Simon the Leper's house when a woman walks in with a jar of very expensive and highly perfumed oil, breaks it open and pours it over his head.

Whaaaaat? Can you imagine? This is beyond anything the men in the room would have done, or can even imagine. They are "indignant" and let her know exactly what they think about wasting a resource that could have feed a lot of poor people.

Who is she? We have no idea if she is young or old, prostitute or chaste, rich or poor...she may have stolen that jar (which in my mind makes the act even more profound.)

What, exactly, did she do? Walter Wangerin describes it this way..."An act of pure love for Jesus particularly. It was an act so completely focused upon the Christ that not a dram of worldly benefit was gained thereby. Nothing could justify (it) except love alone."

In this act of doing something purely beautiful and loving, Wangerin suggests that she has become the deed. "Woman, now you are that deed, neither more or less than the deed. I marvel at you. I pray God that I might do...and therefore be...the same."

While I do pray God will lead me to act on pure love with no desire for recognition, it's scary. I expect some folks to be "indignant". The fact that they don't get it doesn't bother me. I know Christ recognizes the fragrance of pure love when we pour it out in His name. 

Footnote: After I wrote this post, I found out that my cousin, Charlie, died of a heart attack this morning. Charlie was 57, full of energy, always laughing and one of the most physically fit guys I know. He left a wife and three beautiful daughters. He was one of those guys that didn't "get it"...would just smile and scratch his head when I talked about my faith in Jesus. I pray God was there, in his last moments, to make it all clear. Rest in peace, Charlie.