0126 MARY’S MOMENT

MARY’S MOMENT

As I often do in these podcasts, I am highlighting and reflecting on a single poignant sentence in the midst of so much very rich material.

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

What happened that would cause Jesus (and Matthew) to say that this event will be such a central part of the gospel that it will go wherever the story of Jesus goes? It must have made quite an impact, because it is recorded in all four gospels. The woman is not identified by Matthew, but John’s account seems to indicate that the woman is Mary, the sister of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Let’s dig into some speculation on what made this such a profound moment.

Monday evening at the home of Lazarus in Bethany, just over the hill east of Jerusalem. Lazarus is suddenly the second-most-famous person in town (other than Jesus). Folks have been hearing about a man raised from the dead, and they all want to catch a glimpse and maybe get a whiff of him.

Lazarus had spent all afternoon reading the variety of cards folks had sent. There’s “get well soon” cards from those who heard he was sick. Then there’s “sympathy” cards from those who heard he was dead. There’s even a few hand-made “congratulations on being alive again” or “happy resurrection” cards. And then there’s this card with the Sanhedrin’s return address on the envelope. The front has a picture of a tombstone. On the inside it says, “wish you were here.” Sort of puts a damper on the party, as if there wasn’t enough tension already.

But Lazarus is even walking around the house on his own, which is something he hadn’t done in a while, his first time around. 

He sort of had a new lease on life, you might say. It’s a grand and festive time as they all recline there at the big table.

Nobody really noticed that Mary wasn’t there, until at last she comes in late and crawls over to Jesus, heaving great sobs and just crying her eyes out. The whole room goes quiet, as they watch this scene unfold before them.

Mary’s on her hands and knees, kissing Jesus’ feet, crying so much she’s soaking them with her tears. Then she lets down her hair and starts drying His feet with it. By now, everyone is shocked into complete silence, watching this odd and awkwardly intimate display of devotion.

We met Mary and Martha before. Now, apparently, Mary had what some folks call “a past.” She’d known plenty about guilt and shame, and since she’d been delivered from all that by Jesus, now she knew more about love and forgiveness than any of the others, so she would hang on every word Jesus would say.

So, it’s not a total surprise to see Mary doing something like this. But feet? Feet are disgusting. Tears? Not really appropriate at a gathering like this. Hair? Women don’t let down their hair in public like that. And then comes the truly remarkable moment. She takes out this alabaster bottle of fancy perfume. Made of pure nard. It had taken her most of a year to make enough  money to buy it. She had earned that money earlier in her life, doing things that, let’s just say, can make money quick. You might say that it was sort of her remaining trophy from that dark time of her life, and her single most prized possession.

She takes that bottle and snaps the top right off, breakin the ceramic neck. Pours the perfume on Jesus’ feet. Then on His head. It’s running down His hair, down His beard, onto His robe. Filling the house with a beautiful scent that closes up your throat and stops your breathing, it’s so strong. Her crying mixes with her laughter in great heaves of emotion.

Keep in mind, this perfume isn’t the special kind the Lord showed Moses how to make for the priests to use in worship in the tabernacle. That kind wasn’t to be used for anything but the worship of God. Yet something tells me that this is just as sanctified an offering as any you’d see in the temple.

In the midst of this moment of beautiful extravagant love and wild radical abandonment, Judas speaks up. 

“Disgraceful, irresponsible stewardship! That’s what this is!” 

Jesus snaps back, “Leave this woman alone! She has done a beautiful thing to me. You know what she just did? She prepared my body for burial, that’s what. While you all were thinking about filling your bellies, Mary’s been praying. And when she prayed, the Spirit revealed something to her that none of you have been hearing, even when I say it straight out, three times and more.”

Judas tries one more time: “But she could have sold that perfume and given the money to the poor!” (Maybe he’s remembering about that rich young man whom Jesus challenged with doing just that.)

Jesus gives another surprise answer:  “You will always have the poor with you. You can help them anytime you want to. But you won’t have Me here with you much longer.”

Let’s see. What did Jesus say about what was in a man’s heart coming out of his mouth? Something just came out of Mary’s heart. something came out of Jesus’ heart, and something came out of the heart of Judas and the others. 

Mary spoke love loud and clear. I wish I could say it so good.