The Uninvited Guest:
According to the social climate of New Testament times, it was polite to welcome guests into one’s home by anointing the invited guests’ heads with oil, washing their feet, and greeting each guest with a kiss.
This welcome was commonplace with everyone who was invited to an important meal.
For-sure, an illustration of such custom was indicated when Jesus was invited to Simon – the leper’s home.
By contrast, though, it seems in this case that the host is totally ignorant, by inadequately expressing respect!
For this reason, it was left to the insight of the uninvited guest, who communicated silently what others were either lacking in intellectual acuity or were refusing to accept.
As a consequence, the characters in this scene became the talk of the day.
Yep, the talk of the neighbourhood and beyond!
The EXTREME significance of this woman’s expression with her visible symbolic intent was to show that Jesus was no common guest, and even the run of the mill pleasantries were not enough!
And so, the woman wanted to demonstrate the EXTENT of her belief in Jesus.
By anointing Jesus with very expensive perfume, she displayed feelings of ardent, impassioned love.
Such intense emotion, engendered from her heartfelt love for Him!
Nothing was good enough for Jesus!
Anyhow, she certainly proved her sincere dedication to the ministry of Jesus.
Sure-enough, by pouring the valuable contents of the alabaster jar over His head, she emphasized her commitment to faith in Him by the EXTRAVAGANCE of her worship.
Today, wherever the message of Jesus Christ is proclaimed throughout the World, this story communicates what she did – and is told in recognition of her.
Amazing!
English: Contemporary English Version (UK) - CEV-UK
At Bethany 6 Jesus was in the town of Bethany, eating at the home of Simon, who had leprosy. leprosy: See the note at . 7 A woman came in with a bottle of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' head. : . 8 But when his disciples saw this, they became angry and complained, “Why such a waste? 9 We could have sold this perfume for a lot of money and given it to the poor.” 10 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said: Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 11 You will always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me. : . 12 She has poured perfume on my body to prepare it for burial. poured perfume on my body to prepare it for burial: The Jewish people taught that giving someone a proper burial was even more important than helping the poor. 13 You may be sure that wherever the good news is told all over the world, people will remember what she has done. And they will tell others.
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English: Contemporary English Version (UK) - CEV-UK
At Bethany 3 Jesus was eating in Bethany at the home of Simon, who once had leprosy, leprosy: In biblical times the word “leprosy” was used for many different skin diseases. when a woman came in with a very expensive bottle of sweet-smelling perfume. sweet-smelling perfume: The Greek text has “perfume made of pure spikenard”, a plant used to make perfume. After breaking it open, she poured the perfume on Jesus' head. : . 4 This made some of the guests angry, and they complained, “Why such a waste? 5 We could have sold this perfume for more than three hundred silver coins and given the money to the poor!” So they started saying cruel things to the woman. 6 But Jesus said: Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 7 You will always have the poor with you. And whenever you want to, you can give to them. But you won't always have me here with you. : . 8 She has done all she could by pouring perfume on my body to prepare it for burial. 9 You may be sure that wherever the good news is told all over the world, people will remember what she has done. And they will tell others.
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