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We have
all read about the accounts in the Gospels of how two women
came before Jesus and anointed Him with ointment. Their
actions reflected their gratitude and love for Jesus as He
extended His love, grace and mercy to them. Jesus praised them
for their “good work”.
Who exactly were these two women?
The
first woman is called Mary, and the incident took place in
Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper (Matthew 26:6–7).
During the meal, she went to Jesus with an alabaster box of
very precious ointment and poured it on His head. Mary had a
sister Martha and a brother Lazarus. She and her siblings
supported Jesus during His ministry in preaching the Gospel.
The
name of the second woman who anointed Jesus is not mentioned
in the Bible. The Scripture tells us that she was a sinful
woman (Luke 7:36–38). The incident took place in the house of
a Pharisee named Simon, also during a meal. This sinful woman
came with an alabaster box of ointment to anoint Jesus when
she heard He was there.
What is the purpose of anointing a person with ointment?
1.
During the Old Testament, the kings, prophets and priests were
anointed.
2. It
was a sign of respect.
3.
Anointing sick people with ointments which have medicinal
effects, to heal them
4.
For the purpose of burial.
What was the motivation for these two women to anoint Jesus?
Mary
anointed Jesus not just because Jesus brought her brother
Lazarus back from death, but she clearly knew that Jesus was
the Messiah. Mary loved Jesus, listened to His teachings and
remembered what He had taught. Now that Jesus was about to go
to the cross, Mary put her love for Jesus into action, and
anointed Him with the precious ointment. The disciples saw and
were displeased with such waste for they felt that the
ointment could be sold, and the money better used to help the
poor. But Jesus explained that Mary did it for His burial and
“wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole
world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be
told for a memorial of her” (Matt 26:13).
We are
all given a ‘jar of ointment’ which are the talents we have
received from our Lord. Have we poured out all its contents to
serve God and to glorify Him? Indeed, we have to make a
commitment to do so in order to please God, and to show our
reciprocation for the grace of our salvation.
The
sinful woman, on the other hand, knew she had sinned, and came
to Jesus with hope for forgiveness. She came with a repentant
heart, washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped it with her
hair and anointed Him with the ointment. Jesus took compassion
on her and forgave her sins. “And he said to the woman,
Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace” (Lk 7:50). We can
almost picture the joy and peace the woman experienced after
her sins were forgiven!
The
love and mercy of our Lord is higher than the mountain and
deeper than the sea. We are sinners and yet received the grace
of salvation. We did nothing to earn this salvation. It’s
purely by God’s merciful grace we are saved. Therefore, let
us not be like the Pharisees, putting faith and obedience in
Jesus below that of abiding by the Law. Let us draw a lesson
from the two women who anointed Jesus. May God help us!
Encouragement
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