10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. 11 For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. 12 For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. 13 Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”
A number of women in the Gospels were commended for their devotion to God (see Mark 12:41-44, the woman who gave her two coins into the temple treasury). The woman in our story today went about her worship without the self-consciousness that usually accompanies more ostentatious shows of “spirituality.” All that mattered was giving to God what was of great worth.
The disciples were annoyed at her intrusion (vs. 8 ) of extravagant “waste.” Jesus cuts this objection off quickly, defending the woman as having “done a good deed to Me.” To the disciples’ complaint about giving the money to the poor, Jesus responded rather curtly, “You always have the poor with you.” In one fell swoop, He put into balance the popular notion today that Jesus was all about helping the poor. That is true, He was about that, but He was about more than that. He taught that, “…an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers” (John 4:23). He came to gather worshipers, of whom this woman was a supreme example. The disciples, and all followers of Christ ever after, should watch closely this woman’s high demonstration of how to worship Him.
She chose a good thing, just as Mary had done in leaving aside her service to sit at the feet of Christ (Luke 10:42). She had the privilege, by virtue of her sheer devotion to Him, of preparing Him for His burial. Let this sink in. The grand finale of God’s solution to the sin problem that began in the Garden of Eden was about to be consummated. The plan from eternity past, which has enduring repercussions for eternity future, was about to teeter on the fulcrum of crucifixion – and this woman had the unparalleled privilege of being the very one to prepare His body ahead of time. From this time forward until His death, He would carry the fragrance of her worship; through the cruel beatings, mockery and indignity of public torture and death. No wonder her action will be remembered wherever the gospel is preached.
Lord, help me to see that even the seemingly small things of life are elevated in Your memory, when they are done for Your honor and glory.
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