There was a woman who owned an alabaster jar of costly perfume. She entered the home where Jesus was seated for a meal. She used the costly spikenard, or essential oil, to anoint Jesus. Her action outraged the disciples who were present.
She knows that when she walks into the house that she will be surrounded by harsh critics. Yet she acts boldly and with purpose. Regardless the cost, her faith propelled her to risk annoying the crowd so she could anoint the Christ.
It is no wonder that each of the gospel writers includes some version of this powerful narrative. The woman with the alabaster jar is immortalized in Scripture because she is the embodiment of abundant living. In John’s gospel, Jesus tells us, “I come so you may have life and have it more abundantly” (10:10).
This woman apparently needed nothing from Jesus. She went to Jesus to give. She knew that her actions would be deplored and yet she appears to be unhindered by the possibility of public ridicule or worse. She does not apologize for her presence. She offers no remorse for transgressing societal norms. Through her example, we encounter inspirational determination.
This message is excerpted from the “Bold action, bold discipleship” by Angela T. Khabeb in the July 2015 Café online magazine. Today is the Fifth Sunday in Lent. Today we commemorate Albrecht Durer, 1528; Matthias Grunewald, 1529; Lucas Cranach, 1553; artists.
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