Why All the Waste?

Why All This Waste ?

… And the woman broke the alabaster flask and anointed Jesus …
This event in the life of Jesus is mentioned in all four gospel accounts. Much like
a diamond can split light into different beautiful colors, each author spends time
on different perspectives to teach us what happened and what was important.
Mark, who some scholars feel is the oldest writing of the four gospels, suggests
that those who were seated at table were indignant. Matthew places this
indictment closer to home when he calls out the disciples as the ones who were
indignant. Luke leaves all the indignation of the guests to Matthew and Mark
and instead focuses on the self-righteous attitude of the host.
Matthew and Mark introduce the host as Simon “the leper”, Luke reveals that
Simon is a Pharisee without mentioning the “leper” designation provided by the
other two. Being in the home of a “leper” suggests that he was a leper no more.
Could this have been someone that Jesus healed? If so, it gives a great deal more
context to the focus of Luke’s account.
John, often thought of as the most recent of the gospel writings, leaves the guests
and host to the other writers and places all the indignation and hypocrisy on
Judas the betrayer. John is also the only writer that reveals the name of the
woman as Mary the sister of Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead. This hint
from John possibly gives us the most context to the amazing, outlandish
expression of devotion and honor of the woman toward Jesus.
With all the facets of this increasingly complex story, the added burden of the
western reader is the lack of cultural understanding about ancient eastern
hospitality and modesty. Looking back to the Old Testament to provide context
for the importance of hospitality to the eastern community is the story of Elijah
and the widow of Zarephath. 1 Kings 17. In this story we get a glimpse of how
important hospitality is to the ancient eastern world. Although God had directed
the woman to give Elijah bread, she seems to think that it is her and her son’s last
meal but still offers it to Elijah anyway. There are a lot of other things going on in
this story, but the fact that the woman was a Gentile and not even part of Jewish
society further emphasizes that hospitality was seen as a concern that you take on
yourself to your own sacrifice.
Additionally, the idea of modesty, especially in the eastern community, had strict
traditions for the coverings of a woman. For a woman to reveal her hair would
have been seen as rebellion and shamelessness.
Setting aside the context of this story for a moment, I was reflecting on other
passages that may have been in the minds of each of the gospel writers as they
penned their inspiration for believers today.
In the beginning God spoke all things into existence… even nard. In the
wilderness God fed the Israelites with manna that rained down from heaven and
quenched their thirst with water made sweet from rocks and poison ponds.
In Psalms 23 God is depicted as the one that walks alongside the writer through
the valley of the shadow of death, anointing his head with oil, and all this in the
presence of his enemies.
Paul teaches that the glory of a woman is her hair. 1 Corinthians 11:15
Jesus tells us that HIS disciples are known by their love for each other also

revealing that the poor in spirit are blessed for they shall inherit the kingdom of
heaven.
For all that could be said about the story of Jesus anointing, these things stand
out to me.
The most precious and luxurious thing that money could buy, nard in an
alabaster vase, and the thing that would normally bring glory to the woman were
all literally cast at the feet of Jesus to bring about his comfort and to show
hospitality that had not been given. Since the creation God has shared and,
through the millennia, literally rained down such amazing things that we have
often taken for granted. For this woman, these were not nearly enough for the
creator of the universe. Perhaps that is the emotion that wets her face and Jesus
feet, because that is all she could offer.
The idea of God walking beside someone in their most troublesome times may
have been represented by the woman offering hospitality to Jesus, or Jesus’
defense of her as she was attacked by the others. In either sense, all the aspects
of Psalms 23 are here.
In the presence of someone so spiritually poor, at the foot of Jesus, onlookers,
even those that professed love toward Jesus, can quickly be overcome by the
attack of self-righteousness and hypocrisy as they become more like Jesus’
enemies than his friends. When in the presence of someone casting all things
before the foot of God, the uncomfortable reality is that my personal blind spots
may keep me from seeing Jesus as nagging judgement tugs at my opinion. It may
keep me from loving my brother or sister as one that also bears the divine breath
filled image of God. It may make me more of an enemy to God than a friend.
The woman who was once deceived in the garden, is now the only one of those
present who can see Jesus for who he is. Jesus also saw the woman and not only
protected her dignity in front of her accusers but ensured that her example was
shared by all who would tell the story of who he is. For this woman, nothing was
too costly, no task was beneath her pride. She in every aspect set Jesus first.
Total surrender to God does not at once appear as one might think, if I myself
have not totally surrendered to God. The waste is found in my life when, in
greedy hands, I grasp hold of what God has already rained down.

- Steve Turquette

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