Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Those who understand grace are full of grace...

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the
home of a man known as 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." (NIV) 

As a young kid, I remember looking forward to the gifts that I got for christmas and birthday, I remember looking forward to getting a electronic brick game, which I cherished for years after, or when I got my first bycicle. I remember being blown away by these presents, as a result I wanted to cherish the joy with a freinds and family, sharing the expereince with others.

When we read the story of the women who anointed Jesus, we often focus in on her and her possible trangression. But we fail to see the heart of the story. This women notices Jesus is the ultimate gift to humanity, and comes to show the whole room who is in the midst.

This lady, who we think is involved in a form of dodgy vocation, notices something that none of the religious people in the room notice, that Gods agent salvation is in the room, and he is offering a gift for anyone who comes and takes on his new way to live.

The women is grateful and shows her gratefulness through pooring expensive purfume on Jesus's feet and washing his head. The lady recognises that Jesus is someone special and shows her gratefulness to him through the ultimate act.

I beleive that Gracefulness results from understanding grace, taking the time to realise our brokeness, excepting it and then being thankful for it, and acting on it.This may mean doing something crazy to show our awe at what was done on the cross. But, "As a writer of an artical I was reading confesses ... "I am not so sure I am that guy. When I read about the actions of this unnamed woman in Mark 14, I find it easy to wonder about the fiscal responsibility of her actions..." I am too focused on my needs, I do not comprehend the fact that my father in heaven did everything he could do for me, so that I could find shalom. I often think I am alright, that I can rely on myself at best, often I forget the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made by dying on a cross for the whole world.

Take some time to think about the salvation act this easter and allow yourself to take some time to be thankful. Do something crazy to show your thankfulness.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Nathanael,
I preached on this passage recently, and noticed the same idea. Simon the Pharisee was not necessarily rude to Jesus, but neither was he worshipping Jesus. Here was God come in the flesh to rescue sinners, and the person in this room who recognised him and responded with exuberant worship (an entirely appropriate response) was this 'sinful' woman. When Jesus asked Simon "Do you see this woman" it was a pointed question. Simon saw a kind of woman (a sinner causing a huge disruption), but he failed to see the woman and he failed to see that it was her that was the faithful worshipper of God (not Simon).
I also heard another really excellent sermon on this passage once in which the preacher made the simple point that forgiven sinners love God much. The woman knew herself to be a forgiven sinner so she loved her saviour much. Simon didn't see the woman, and he didn;t see his saviour either.

Kris said...

Hi Nathanael,
I preached on this passage recently, and noticed the same idea. Simon the Pharisee was not necessarily rude to Jesus, but neither was he worshipping Jesus. Here was God come in the flesh to rescue sinners, and the person in this room who recognised him and responded with exuberant worship (an entirely appropriate response) was this 'sinful' woman. When Jesus asked Simon "Do you see this woman" it was a pointed question. Simon saw a kind of woman (a sinner causing a huge disruption), but he failed to see the woman and he failed to see that it was her that was the faithful worshipper of God (not Simon).
I also heard another really excellent sermon on this passage once in which the preacher made the simple point that forgiven sinners love God much. The woman knew herself to be a forgiven sinner so she loved her saviour much. Simon didn't see the woman, and he didn;t see his saviour either.