The Fragrance of a Selfless Act

"There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he dined."  Matt. 26:7

There was intuitive awareness on the part of this woman that a turning point had come in the public ministry of the Iesous.  There was no coincidence that he was at the home of one Simon the leper.  According to the Torah Simon had to observe certain restrictions because of his condition.  Simon was not to come into contact with others because they could be contaminated by his disease.

The Iesous was in the home of a leper, and not only that he was there to eat with the stricken one.  The event  is filled with the pathos of the Iesous.  This action on his part of dining with the leper is a poignant demonstration of Grace.  This scene is a prototype of the love of God for all who have been stricken with a disease that begins deeper than the skin. No one knew it was there at first and yet over time the stricken one came to know that it was there for only him to know, but then that which was beneath the skin became obvious for all to see.

The disease of leprosy physically and spiritually disfigured an individual.  The Iesous looked through the outward form of Simon distorted by disease and attended to the needs of his wounded soul.  The Great Physician came to Simon the leper and comforted him with love that did not judge him by his outward condition.  Simon was relieved of the anxiety of feeling defensive and guarded.  The Iesous had come into where he lived to dine with him.

Prior to this scene we are told by Matthew that the religious leaders had come together to plot the arrest and murder of the Iesous.  He was fully aware of their plans, but he went on with his plans attending to the needs of those who mattered little in the scheme of things.  There was this other thing too that transcended the schemes and plots of the leaders, and that was the meal with Simon the leper.

A spiritually perceptive woman who had a very valuable box of perfume probably from India came into the home of Simon the leper, and ministered to the Iesous.  She approached him and broke open the box of perfume and poured it over his head.  It was her gift to him for all that he did for others.

His utter selflessness never left him as the religious leaders plotted to kill him.  His utter selflessness never left him as evident by dining with Simon the leper in a very disagreeable atmosphere.

The disciples interpreted her act as waste and proceeded to reprimend her for being so irresponsible. She stepped into the highly critical arena where the Iesous constantly lived.  His life was filled with chronic criticism and resentment.  She stepped into the arena of disapproval to do a kindness for him.  He loved her act toward him and he defended her act.  He was not allowed to enjoy a moment of kindness without it being threatened by myopic descent.

Her heart knew why he was at the home of Simon of leper.  Simon the leper was the forensic archetype of those whose lives had been ruined by a condition deeper than the skin. The disciples were grieved by her action.  The Iesous knows his own.  The disciples lacked spiritual perception. They were steeped in arrogant  subjectivism.  Their collective and common sense argument against her act was that the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor.

His response to the disciples was succinct and noteworthy.  He said:  "For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always."  Nothing more was needed to be said by the Iesous.  Yet he did say more, he told them that her act would become a memorial of her.  The fragrance of her selfless act toward him would remain-forever.  She braved the criticism and accomplished something wonderful for another.

Our world is in desperate need of those who would step into the arena of criticism and disapproval and do something beautiful for others.  The opportunities are all around you.  Are you halted by fear?  Are you hampered by criticism?  Take the risk, and do something wonderful for someone else.  You will be criticised by some, but so what?  Live before God, and be the perfume in a world so controlled by the leprosy of hate, and selfishness.  Your good works to the world on the behalf of the Ieosus will be a memorial to you. I think I remember C.S. Lewis calling this 'Good Infection.'  Blessings to you.

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