“For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.” Matthew 26:11-12
I can see where the disciples would have thought it was a waste to pour costly fragrant oil upon the head of Jesus when it could’ve been sold and the money given to the poor. I may have even thought the same thing. However, this was more than just oil on someone’s head. Jesus was about to face horrible physical and emotional pain. Near the time before one of His closest 12 disciples would betray Him and the others would forsake Him, the fact that this woman did something so honorable for Him must have meant more to Jesus than she could have understood — especially since she did it as a good work specifically for Him. Yes, the poor were important, but at this moment a righteous man was about to suffer death and this oil was better used as an annointing for His burial. This was it for Jesus. There would be no more opportunities to bless Him in this way, yet there would always be more opportunities to help the poor.
Prayer:
My God, I admire this woman. She did something that most people would consider wasteful, yet in her discernment she took the scarce opportunity to do good for Jesus at a very significant time in His life. No wonder this story is recorded as a memorial to her. Teach me, wise Father, to have this discernment for what is most needful and important each day — especially on a day such as this where I will gather with the saints to remember the great importance of Jesus’ sacrificial death which made His burial so significant. Thank you for the example of the woman who prepared my Savior for His burial, and thank you for my Savior who died and was buried for the sake of sinners like me. Amen.
Truth in love,
Heather
Truth in Love 