Jesus is Anointed

Jesus is Anointed

Matthew 26:6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, (7 ) a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. (NIV)

          Jesus, after having ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey as a fulfillment of prophecy, is now at the home of Simon. Simon was a leper whom Jesus had healed. Jesus had done many miracles to heal the sick and raise the dead. He had given people hope when they felt none. He had offered them forgiveness when they thought all was lost. He gave them peace when their minds were troubled. Here he was enjoying what would be his final days leading up to his death.         

          While he was eating a meal, a woman comes in with an alabaster jar. Inside of it is expensive perfume. She breaks open the seal, pours it on Jesus and wipes it on him with her hair. She didn’t ask if she could do, she just did it for her master. She loved him. She wanted to show her appreciation to him. She wanted him to have the sweet fragrance that she now felt as a result of him giving her the freshness of a new life. As she does this, the disciples are in amazement and rebuke her for what she has done. They felt that the money that she spent on the perfume could have been best used to give to the poor. In one of the gospels, it names Judas Iscariot as being the one rebuking her. However, Jesus silenced them. What was it to them what she did for Jesus?

          She had done no wrong. She spent what was said to be a year’s wages on perfume to anoint the Master whom she loved. No amount of money was too high of a price for her to pay. She knew his worth. She valued his ministry in her life. She knew he wouldn’t rebuke her. She knew that he appreciated the courage that she had shown to come kneel at his feet in an act of humility.  

          The disciples did not understand that Jesus was about to carry the sins of the world on his shoulders. They were only able to view things through the naked eye, while a spiritual war was about to begin. Jesus was being prepared for his death and burial. Anointing for that moment was taking place right before their eyes. They had on spiritual blinders that prevented them from seeing and understanding what was truly about to take place. 

          Jesus had been given incense, spices and oils at his birth, now he was being given them again all wrapped up into one days before his death. God had used this woman’s act of kindness as preparation. The devil was using their rebuke as a means of separation. He wanted to separate her from what would once again prepare him for his destiny. However, even in the face of rebuke, Satan’s plans could not be successful. Jesus’ anointing had taken place. He was in transition. He would follow through with God’s plan. An anointing had come over him and now, he would prepare for his earthly destiny.