“. . .  we find Mary, pulling out a special flask of expensive perfume from its hiding place.  Probably a bit excited and nervous about what she was about to do.  She was consumed with love for Jesus.  She was filled with joy on account of Jesus bringing her brother, Lazarus, back from the dead.  But she also seemed to understand that Jesus was about to die.”

On Palm Sunday our pastor, Mark Hohbach, read us an original dramatic narrative he had written about Jesus’ last week.  This is only a short excerpt from his touching story based on the facts of the Gospels.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  Here is the account from the Gospel of Mark followed by the story by our pastor.

“Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was reclining at table, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head.

Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked.  “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.

But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”  Mark 14:3-9

This is Pastor Mark Hohbach’s narrative:  We arrive at the house of a man known as Simon the Leper.  He obviously was no longer a leper; otherwise, there is no way he would be living in his home.  Instead, he would have been banished to the cemetery outside the city or to other remote regions.  Possibly he had lived by the very tomb Lazarus had been buried in.

We find Simon sitting at the table with Jesus rolling his fingers in front of his eyes; marveling how Jesus had restored his flesh and bones.  Next to Simon, according to the Gospel of John, we find Lazarus, equally absorbed in his astonishment that he had actually begun decomposing a few weeks earlier and now was in full, vibrant health.  Can you imagine the conversation that Simon and Lazarus must have been having?!  Can you imagine what words of gratitude must have escaped their lips?  And they could never even fathom that Jesus had actually restored 37.2 trillion decaying microscopic cells in an instant!

In the kitchen, according to the book of John, we see Martha, busy as ever, joyfully serving her Lord as her temperament and love compelled her.  And in the bedroom, we find Mary, pulling out a special flask of expensive perfume from its hiding place.  Probably a bit excited and nervous about what she was about to do.  She was consumed with love for Jesus.  She was filled with joy on account of Jesus bringing her brother, Lazarus, back from the dead.  But she also seemed to understand that Jesus was about to die.  She had spent so much time listening to him and trusting him at his word.  She simply believed him.  She didn’t over-analyze his words;  she just trusted him and loved him.  He said that he would die and in three days rise again.  Just a couple of weeks earlier outside Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus had told Martha that he was the resurrection and the life.  So, why wouldn’t he, too, rise again?

The spikenard perfume cost more than 300 denarii.  That was equivalent to a full year’s wages for the common laborer.  Perhaps Mary and her family were quite well off.  She had prepared her brother for burial a few weeks earlier.  Did she use myrrh for his burial?  That would indicate incredible wealth to be able to have two vials of expensive perfume on hand.  Or did she hold back this precious oil especially for Jesus?  Jesus said that she kept it for this event.  She desired to give her absolute best to Jesus.  Mary prepared him for burial.

But it’s the snapshot of Mary wiping Jesus’ feet with her hair that captivates us.  We learn this detail from John’s Gospel.  She was demonstrating her total adoration of Jesus.  She was using her glory, her hair, to wipe the excess oil off Jesus’ feet.  Mary assumed the position of a slave at the feet of Jesus.  She humbled herself before the dinner guests by uncovering her hair and untying it.  Something a Jewish woman did not do in public.  She laid her glory at his feet.

And then, she wore the pungent and intoxicating fragrance of the perfume for weeks, I’m sure.  Who knows how long it was before she was willing to wash her hair again?  Everywhere she went, people could smell the aroma of her love for Jesus and his love for her.  And everywhere that Jesus went that week, they could smell the fragrance of her love for him.  When Jesus greeted John Mark’s mother, Mary, the owner of the upper room, she would have enjoyed that special fragrance.  Pilate may have wondered why a peasant was wearing such an expensive perfume.  Herod may have wondered why Jesus didn’t pay more taxes if he could afford spikenard.  And Judas would have smelled the lingering fragrance in Jesus’ hair as he kissed Jesus on the cheek when he betrayed him.  The soldiers would have smelled the perfume as they placed the crown of thorns on his head.

The fragrance of Mary’s love and adoration of Jesus continues to waft to all generations.  This act of sacrifice and love has become a memorial forever.  It is how she is remembered.  Loving.  Humble.  Generous.  Endearing.  Lovable.  Faithful.

But then Judas ruined the moment and blurted out, “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked.  “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.

Wow!  Judas actually said, “wasted”!  Wasted!  Can you imagine how that must have grieved Jesus’ heart?  Not to mention, Mary’s?  She must have been put to tears.  Nothing is wasted when given to God out of a sincere and generous heart.  The angels of heaven must have wept when they heard this rebuke.  Michael and Gabriel must have been reaching for the swords!  Wasted!  On the King of the Universe?  On the Creator of all things?  On the soon-to-be sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world?  On the One who loves the whole world and is willing to die for it?  On the One who wears the crown of victory; one made of thorns, the other made of pure gold.”  by Pastor Mark Hohbach

“While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.”  Song of Solomon 1:12