She has done beautiful thing to me [Matt 26a]

 Matthew 26:1-16

 Key Verse: 26:10

Introduction:

In Ch 24-25 Jesus taught coming of the day of the Lord and Jesus’ coming in glory as well as what God’s people should do through the four parables. In these teachings Jesus clearly pictured himself as the coming king with glory and power. The next events are all about Jesus suffering and death. So this is whereby a transition is being made. In this period, one event is described, a woman with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume.   

What she did is remarkable in the sense that it gives an answer what we are to do in between teaching and following Jesus way of life, i.e. Jesus suffering on the cross.

What is my hope? What is your vision or hope for your life? Is it on the earth, in this world? Or is it the kingdom of God where God rules with his peace and justice? In all possibility, we all, without any exception, want to enter the kingdom and enjoy his great blessing and peace. Yet many will think about this choice twice if we have to go through suffering and death as the only way to that kingdom of God. So death is the greatest huddle for all to enter the most cherished place, the perfect place, the kingdom of God. All those who followed Jesus came to the situation whereby they had to make decision to believe Jesus or to believe what they knew of about life. This decision is about Jesus death. There are three different attitudes or decisions in today’s passage. At the center of this is a woman who poured out an alabaster jar of perfume.  She openly, flagrantly, daringly displayed her love, devotion, and honor to Jesus. Jesus said of her, she has done beautiful thing to me. What can we make of it? How do you take Jesus and his death?

1.      Back ground[1-2]

1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ² "As you know, the Passover is two days away-- and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."

Here all these things are what Jesus taught in ch 24-25. Here  Jesus taught what is yet to come; judgment and coming of Jesus in glory. Also he taught believers what to do during this time of waiting in form of four parables: the parable of wise servant, the parable of ten virgins, the parable of the talents and the parable of sheep and goats. Through these parables, Jesus laid out clear picture of the world to come and how it will end! Particularly in the last one, the parable of sheep and goats, it starts in this way:

Matthew 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. Also he depicted himself as king who would judge in v 34. 34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

So Jesus unambiguously said that he is the king and he will come as the judge. He is simply and openly saying that he is coming as the king with power, authority and glory.

This is the last teaching and there will be no more teaching!  From this point on Jesus said of the things about Jesus death. In other word, as far as teaching the truth is concern, it is done. There was only thing left, Jesus suffering and death. So this is the time in between what Jesus taught and Jesus death. So we can characterize this time in two way: a. it is the time of decision on what to do with Jesus and His death. b. This decision is based on what Jesus did and taught. c. this decision is on what to do with Jesus and his death.

This is the time of digestion on Jesus’ teaching and time of decision for what is imminent. This is quickened by Jesus announcement of his death.

² "As you know, the Passover is two days away-- and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."

How much time did they have to think over? Only two days!

Also in two days is the day of Passover. This is the greatest festival and religious holiday. This is the day Israel sacrificed a lamb and applied its blood on the door post so that the angel of death may pass over their houses. This is the day that they got out of slavery in Egypt and set off a journey to the Promised Land. On this Passover, Jesus will be crucified.

Crucifixion is well known form of execution. It was practiced very often by Romans. It is more than possible that all of Jesus followers, including this woman and disciples, had seen one being executed by crucifixion. It is very torturing and very gruesome. The whole body is mutilated and goes through intense suffering. But Jesus, their Lord, is going through this torture and suffering and then to death. Why?  What he was about to go through is totally opposite to what he is and what he claimed to be, the king, the Son of God as far as the disciples were concerned. Crucifixion is an utmost form of condemnation, judgment. Jesus will and has to go through according to Jesus’ and God’s plan, though there are many unanswered questions in the minds of the disciples.

Also anyone who has any question on his death, he has to probe into a reason why Jesus is going to die during the time of the Passover and by crucifixion.

2.      Leaders plot [3-5]

³ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, ⁴ and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. ⁵ "But not during the Feast," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people."

Here chief priests and the elders are the leaders of Israel. They represent religious and political power. They got together in a private residence of the high priest Caiaphas. They decided two things: to arrest and kill Jesus in sly way. Second they decided to do this after the Passover feast. They feared the people who would flock into the city for the feast.

Those who hold the power over people were determined to keep that power within themselves. They would not relinquish it to the coming King the Lord. They cannot do it openly because their deeds were evil from its root. Through this it is quite clear that Jesus death is sealed. Only thing that is uncertain is the time. But Jesus said that he would die during the Passover feast. These leaders planned to kill Jesus after the Passover. One thing we see through this is that they went all the way to rebel against God and His Son Jesus by plotting to kill Him. The world will dare to do anything to uphold their power and autonomy, even Jesus the Son of God Almighty. 

3.      The woman’s action [6-7]

⁶ While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper,  

This story happened in between two major events of Jesus ministry. Behind of this sit what began from the cleansing of the temple and continued to the last discourse about the day of the Lord and four parables. Ahead of this story lies a series of events that leads to Jesus’ death.

Simply this is the only interaction of Jesus with people in between these two periods. So in order to understand this event, we have to know what happened before and what were to happen after. Also these two events affect greatly the minds of people who followed Jesus. In one hand they had the information or teaching of Jesus and on the other hand what lies ahead as a sure thing to come, i.e.  Jesus death by the way of crucifixion.   

So it was in Bethany a two miles away from the city of Jerusalem. If John is describing the same event, it is at the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Here in Matthew, it is at the house of Simon the Leper. Even by location Bethany, it is clear that this happened just days before Jesus was arrested.

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.

A woman came to Jesus and poured out an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume on his head.

It is contained in an alabaster jar. It is made of gypsum, very beautiful color, white or thinly greenish or light blue while. In this jar is a pine of pure Nard according to John. It is said to be 300 denarii; Since one denari is a day wage of a man, it is mount to be one year wage of a man;  If we calculate in today’s term, it could be $20000-30000. Through this, it is not a stretch to say that this must have been a very treasured possession of her.  She would use it only very special occasion. Even in a very special occasion, only few or several drop of this perfume might be more than enough to meet the occasion.

One thing we know it was very expensive perfume. It is not rare to anoint an honored guest with anointing. But it is very extraordinary or even we can say that it is crazy to pour out the whole jar of such an expensive perfume on a person.

This fragrance, a pure Nard, is used in the Jerusalem temple service for burning incense. It is to fill the temple with fragrant aroma to the Lord.

Also what she was doing a form of anointing; Such anointing is performed for the ceremony of inauguration of a king or a priest. Is it possible that what she is doing has anything to do for an inauguration of Jesus as King?

Let’s think about what exactly happen or how she did this.

I have a bottle of perfume; about 3.3 oz, 100 ml. It is common size of men’s or woman’s perfume. I thought about pouring out the whole bottle of perfume on my’s head! If it is poured suddenly all at once, it will surely flow down on all over face, even not to have a time to wipe out of eyes. But the actual amount of the Nard was about a pint[two full cups, 470 ml]. Imagine what would happen if it is poured all at one shot. Most likely, while Jesus was reclining, she came behind him and poured out this perfume slowly and carefully until the whole jar is emptied. It trickled down the perfume slowly over several minutes. Jesus did not stopped her and she carefully and slowly let it flow down back or side of his head and then to his neck and then to his body clothes and then even to his feet. Even it might be possible that with her hands she let even a single drop of this perfume not to drop on the floor but make it sure that all of it trickle down through his body and his clothes and then even to his feet.  She continued tipping the bottle over several minutes while Jesus remained calm and letting her finish all these.  What can we say about this? Why did she do that? What’s going on in her mind? In such proximity of Jesus, she could see Jesus’ body in detail. She might have thought about the body that she is anointing is the body that is going to be crucified, nailed both hands and feet, his skins are torn apart by whips.

We can have two considerations about this woman: what she is giving to Jesus and what Jesus is accounted to particularly in respect to his crucifixion.

Through this event, we try to assess the understanding of the minds of three people: the woman, the disciples and Jesus, particularly in these two aspects: what each of them is giving to Jesus, and what worthiness Jesus is accounted to by each of them.

 

4.      The disciples [8-9]

⁸ When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. ⁹ "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."

These disciples knew well of the value of this perfume. They said that it was waste. In other word the value of the perfume is about $30,000. But by pouring out on Jesus, the perfume did not do what it is worth.

They were indignant. When one is indignant, he has strong sense right and wrong. Simply to the disciples’ eyes, this woman was doing something totally wrong and if she did sell this and give it to the poor, the perfume makes its full value. This was right thing to do! To the ordinary minds, this is quite right because it was not a special occasion and Jesus is about to suffer a great deal on the cross. If I were in their shoes, I would have though the same thing. What is missing? ---

Can we say that in their mind, Jesus is not worthy to get this expensive perfume? Yes Jesus is not worthy! Jesus is less than so much money $30,000. In other words, there is no true honor and respect to Jesus in the depth of these disciples. It is all about worthiness! They were not willing to give honor commensurate to His worthiness. He is the Son of God. He is the king! He is the Lord! He is God! Yet none of these disciples came out full to honor Jesus. Why? They did not accept Jesus death as the way of truth. They were filled with uncertainty. But this woman did was different. So  30,000 is so much and so valuable for them while their heart was far away from Jesus the Son of the living God!

Roman 1:21a  ²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him,  

Yet they were so right in their own thought and they were so indignant! In the book of John, it is said that it was Judas Iscariot led this charge against her. But in Matt and Mark, it was the disciples that made such charge against her. Almost entire disciples were ganged up on her for she wasted so expensive perfume. It is quite possible that some just remained silent while majority made such remarks against her.

What we conclude on the disciples through this event? We can see a glimpse of what were going on in their heart in John 14
John 14:5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
⁸ Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"

These are the questions raised by the disciples just before Jesus was arrested [the upper room discourse ] Here we can feel their fear and anxiety. It was at its peak because Jesus’ death and his departure became an immovable fact in their hearts as soon as Jesus announced his death in two days at the feast of the Passover.

In time of crisis of life, what do we hold on to? It is the time when our real self will be revealed. If we believe our lives depend on what we have then, our decision are after material possessions. If we trust Jesus, then we pay attention to what Jesus says and does. They were in crisis because they did not see Jesus’ death as the way of life. They only feared that Jesus is slipping away from them.  

5.      Jesus’ appraisal of her action [10-13]

Jesus received the anointing. He remained calm while she was pouring out the perfume. It is good to know how Jesus took her action.

¹⁰ Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

Jesus rebuked the disciples saying they are bothering her. It was quite clear that in Jesus eyes what they were doing was not good. For them this woman was wasting such a large sum of money at wrong time in wrong place. But his kind of thinking comes from themselves and it only caused annoyance to her faith, her love.

Contrarily Jesus made a remarkable statement: ¹⁰ …She has done a beautiful thing to me.

What did Jesus mean that what she did was a beautiful thing? Often the word beauty or beautiful is used to describe a woman with perfect complexion, smile, pink lips, round eyes: the outward appearance. But here Jesus was saying about what she did; her action was a beautiful thing. Action reflects what was going on inside. 

Romans 10:15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

1 Peter 3:4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. ⁵ For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands,

It is something of perfect harmony or fully agreeable,  excellent, eminent, surpassing, precious, suitable.. nothing evil  or guile but is filled with purity, of something good, truthful, belief, devotion, dedication; beautiful things is the sum of all these.

At the end of sixth day of creation, God expressed the beauty of the creation in this way:

Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

God was so happy over what he had created. All of the creation inclusively reflected exactly what God had in his mind. So, all of his creations were put together to make one beautiful thing. Here is God’s happiness and joy. Likewise Jesus saw this in her action and Jesus was so happy so full of joy.  In her action there was everything or all things that he wanted in man.  Here Jesus was so happy not simply because she had what Jesus wanted but because she did to Jesus.  So focus is not what she is or has but what she gave to Jesus ; it is her understanding of Jesus and her honor given to Jesus. How much is Jesus worth in her heart? It is expressed in this way. She understood Jesus as the Son of the living God, the Savior. She heard that Jesus is going to die in two days during the Passover. She heard that Jesus is going to be crucified, like so many criminals or revolutionaries against Rome.  She knew what it is like being crucified. Yet her faith in Jesus was unswerving. Jesus is still the Son of the living God and Jesus is still worthy of all her trust and love.

She was willing to give anything or even everything to Jesus. So when she broke the jar she poured out until it is fully given and the jar is empty. She gave everything to Jesus because Jesus is worthy more than $30000 perfume.  If she has more she is willing to give more because Jesus is worthy!

Revelation 5:12 In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

Jesus is worthy because Jesus is giving his life on the cross!  No one saw this but she saw such beauty and worthiness that surpasses all her value.  What else can she not give! Jesus is worthy of all her being! The true beauty is the mind that recognizes fully the truth in love and commitment.

 ¹¹ The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.

Here the key word is ‘always’ It is a word of time. The disciples did not know the critical nature of this time. This is the time when Jesus is about to die. This is the time for Jesus to be crucified on the cross as the symbol of rebellion. This is the time when Jesus was about to hand his life over to the hands of the wicked so that they may do as much evil as their heart desires.

As Jesus’ death is set as an immovable fact of impeding event, their minds are so much engrossed in their wellbeing and in their shattered hopes; the disciples did not see the beauty of this woman. Also they did not see the worthiness of Jesus.   Simply they did not see his death as the way of life. They did not see the coming king because of his death.

Death brings the demise of all our thoughts, hopes, and expectations and whatever is linked to life shall stop here at death.

But Jesus gave his disciples something that could help them to offset this power, the power of death.  In the last discourse Jesus taught them coming of the day of the Lord, and coming of Jesus in power and glory. In the last parable Jesus taught them that Jesus is the KING coming in glory with his angels.

They are not much interested in that day. They are worrying about now and the life that they are enjoying at the present.

¹² When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

When one think of crucifixion, one cannot escape from the concern on the body. This is the body that will be crucified and suffer on the cross, whipped, lashed and nailed and speared. As she poured out the perfume on Jesus head, she saw Jesus the whole body at very close proximity, on which the perfume trickling down and down to the feet. The one that is so truthful, so loving, so powerful, and so pure will be facing the crucifixion that is so ugly and so vile. But Jesus is willing to go through. This body Jesus will be crucified so miserably so painfully so grotesquely. 

So she took Jesus’ word at its face value when he said he will be crucified. Yet she never doubted his power and his truthfulness despite of the fact that Jesus is going to be crucified as the worst criminal. In this way, she is strongly denying the incrimination that will be put on Jesus as the blasphemer.

What is the significance of the body of Jesus that will go through such hardship?

Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."

1 Corinthians 10:16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?

Hebrews 10:5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;

Hebrews 10:10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

It is Jesus body that goes through all the sufferings. Unless one eats his body he has no part with Jesus.  Unless one does not know the true impact of sin on Jesus’ body, he has no understanding of what Jesus did.

As soon as she heard of Jesus’ crucifixion, she was thinking of the body of Jesus that will go through such tough time leading to death.

She anointed Jesus’ body that will go through such abuse by sins of men. In this way she cherished the beauty of the body and memorialized the richness of his grace in His body. So Jesus said; it is the preparation for his burial. The body that brought the death of all sins is anointed and cherished and fully honored! Worthy is the lamb that was slain!

When we know this worthiness of Jesus and His body in suffering, we come to know him truly! So it is said,

Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

The spirit of Christ is fully displayed on the cross where his gave his life for all sinners. This is what Jesus meant unless we eat his flesh we have no part with him!

This woman saw the glimpse of this truth and is fully expressed by pouring out the perfume. She has no regret to give everything to Jesus for JESUS is worthy!

As we know, death makes a breaking point for all human relationships. 

6.      Wherever the Gospel is preached

¹³ I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

When Jesus said to his disciples that she has done a beautiful thing to him, Jesus was so happy to see the things that he wanted from men. Even now, even facing his death, Jesus is to be honored as the Lord and king.

In this way Jesus clearly telling his disciples that they should to the same thing as this woman did. then Jesus would be more happier. But such expectation of Jesus did not stop here. He wanted this story to go out to the entire world. Jesus wanted all men and women to do the same thing: giving full honor Jesus as the king despite of his death or in lieu of his death!

Death is always a stumbling block for all men. But Jesus death on the cross is seen, understood and honored properly in this woman. We all must follow her! This is what Jesus wants from all human being!

Jesus gave us so many blessings. Now Jesus is asking us to follow him in his suffering and even to death. In our understanding of death, there is nothing good. Nothing good at all! But if we see what this woman saw, the true beauty of Jesus death on the cross, then we can give all that we have! What is the alabaster jar of perfume?

The beauty is the sum of all things of truth of God. The true beauty is found in full devotion to Jesus, honor to the one who is crucified for sins of men.

7.      Judas decision [14-16]

As soon as Jesus said the date of his death, it was more than a certainty that Jesus has will to die in the hands of the leaders! So, Judas went to the chief priest and decided to sell Jesus for thirty silver coins. This is pragmatism or materialism, at its best. Judas defied all Jesus teaching about coming the day of wrath of God and coming of Jesus in glory and power. This is the smartest of men at its best. As long as Jesus dies, all that Jesus taught and taught have no meaning and no bearing on his mind and his heart. It is deeply entrenched in materialism and skepticism, fatalism. This is denying the power of God and denying the authority of God Almighty in Jesus. Like this, to all men in sin, death is the threshold for human goodness and will as well as human understanding. But those who believe Jesus WORD and believe God in Jesus, believe God of creation and life, can go beyond this threshold.

It is a great pity and sad thing that one cannot see the light because he chose to reject the word of Jesus. The root is unwilling refusal to accept God and His authority on his life.

But for us, we can see Jesus’ death as the way to life in God. We can cherish his cross and dare to give honor for his suffering and dare to follow him in His cross.  May God bless richly in His grace