One of the most beautiful acts of worship is found in Mark 14:3-9. The title of the story in the NIV reads “Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman.”
Dinner with Jesus
A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to have dinner with him and some other guests. What follows is a summary of that special encounter:
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. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
And here, 2000 years later, we find ourselves talking about this woman just as Jesus foretold.
Gospel of Mark and Luke
Matthew and Luke also recorded their version of this story. Luke noted in Luke 7:9, that the Pharisees recognized her as a woman who lived a sinful life and judged Jesus for allowing her to anoint His feet:
“If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus responded with a story. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” Jesus replied, “You have judged correctly. He went on, “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. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.
