That Day in Bethany (Part 2) Harsh Words

Often times when I read the account of Jesus’ life in the Gospels, I long for more details.  And this story is no different.  Give me more, John Mark.  I want all the details.  But then I remember how God breathed these words into the lives of these long-ago writers.  There are no more or no less details given to us than He intended.   Perhaps He wants us to use these magnificent minds of ours that He created.

As you read the passages in Mark 14, let your mind take you back to Bethany. Allow God to speak to you and maybe fill in some of the details.

Imagine a room full of Jewish men chatting with Jesus, and in walks a woman.  In walks a woman.  That of itself would be strange for that time in history.  In fact Jewish males would often thank God during their morning prayers for not making them Gentiles, slaves, or women.[i]  Does that strike a chord with you?

Now imagine being that woman who enters the home of Simon during an important week for the Jews.  It was two days before Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Break—one of the most celebrated Jewish events.  Even those plotting to kill Jesus would not do so until the Feast was completed.  But here is this woman, with a jar of perfume, and a mission to bless her Messiah.

I have to imagine she knew what she was walking into.  She knew the Law and was no stranger to the Jewish world around her.  Was she frightened by this assignment?  Did her hands tremble as she carried the jar across the room?  Had she pleaded with God to choose someone else to carry out this task?  Did she wonder, why me?

I’m certain all of those thoughts passed through her mind, but she was armed with a peaceful assurance from a powerful God that this was an important task for this moment in history.  I believe she also knew what the men in that room would think.  I wonder if she prepared herself, the best she could, for the insults and harsh words that would come.

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. Mark 14:4-5

But wait, what’s this?  This Messiah, the one she has come to bless, is defending her actions to the disciples?

 “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. Mark 14:6-7

She has done a beautiful thing to me.  Let that sink in.  She.  She has done a beautiful thing to Me. This side of the Resurrection she is a heroine—a woman to be praised and honored.  But that day in Bethany, she shook things up.  And I imagine she left that room not having a clue of the part she played in history.

Sometimes we are given assignments by God—“get your hands dirty” type of assignments.  We argue with God, we procrastinate and complain, but it’s because we don’t understand the final outcome.  We don’t understand how our God-given task fits into the Story.

Neither did this woman.  Yet she obeyed.  And look how her act of love trumped harsh words and criticism and weaved itself into this great Story.

[i] Book: She Did What She Could, Elisa Morgan