While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wage and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Mark 14:3-9
Extravagant Love (Mark 14:3-9) – Lent #5
I have always loved this story. A woman kneeling before Jesus and pouring out everything she has, all her worship, her wealth, her reputation – sacrificed in honor of Him. That kind of extravagant worship is so inspiring!
What is nard?
This time when I read this passage, I became curious about what it actually was that she poured out from the alabaster jar. What is pure nard, anyway? The name doesn’t sound particularly wonderful or attractive. Nard. It sounds dull and heavy to me.
However, nard is the aromatic oil of a flowering plant called spikenard. Spikenard is native to the Himalayas of Nepal, China, and India. Because of this, the oil has always been and is still imported to other countries and therefore extremely expensive. It is sometimes called a fragrance beyond price.
The Spikenard Flower
Spikenard appears similar to honeysuckle flowers. The blossoms are pink or purple little bells that hang in clusters. When flowering ends, the plant will fruit out. The fruit is used worldwide for jellies, sweets, and tonics for multiple health benefits. The root is edible and can also be mashed up to use as a poultice for wounds or allergic skin reactions. The aromatic oil has a woodsy scent.
A Blessing Oil
For generation, the oil has been utilized as a blessing oil. Specifically, it is a blessing oil used to honor people of high esteem. It was placed in alabaster jars to preserve the strong fragrance. A saturated, full-strength blessing for those on which you wish to bestow honor. Wow! What an act of worship!
Why would someone do this?
Interestingly, this oil is also known as “the oil of forgiveness”. It is said that when you apply it topically, it helps you release feelings of resentment and forgive others, bringing peace. Forgiveness has a depth of meaning that becomes clear when you read some of the other gospel accounts of the anointing of Jesus.
“A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.” Luke 7:37
This woman had lived a sinful life. She had a bad reputation – everyone knew she was a sinner. She had much that needed forgiving. It was weighing down on her. The all-encompassing forgiveness of Jesus inspired a love so extravagant and passionate in her that she poured out everything she had before Him.
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Luke 7:44-47
An extravagant Love
Has Jesus forgiven you of much? I know that He has forgiven me again and again and again. As we contemplate the amazing forgiveness of God today, let’s allow it to inspire extravagant love in us for our Savior. How can we pour ourselves out before Him today?
Action Step:
Find one way to love Jesus extravagantly today. Maybe it is by openly speaking about Him to others who may rebuke you for it. Perhaps it is giving of our wealth to those in need (Jesus said that whatever we do to the least of these, we do to Him). How can we our ourselves out today for the One who poured Himself out for us. What will make our lives exude a fragrance beyond price to draw those around us to our God?
Remember that those who make choices illogically or ridiculously out of a heart of extravagant love for God are not to be rebuked or mocked by us. Sometimes people just don’t do the things that I think make sense. They don’t think things through. I may not agree with everything that my brothers and sisters in Christ do. However, it is not my job to rebuke them or make fun of them. I’m not talking about sinful decisions – just actions that don’t make sense to me. I think I have more of the judgmental attitude in me like those who surrounded Jesus than I want to admit to myself. But today, I can make a choice to love those who don’t make any sense to me. Maybe some of you can relate to that too.
Prayer:
Dear God, You have forgiven me of so much. It is incredible the weight that You have taken from me and carried for me. Awaken my heart to the depth of Your forgiveness and help me to love You extravagantly everyday. Help me to see opportunities to love you through worship, service, giving, repentance, etc. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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