And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” (Mark 14:3-9 ESV).
With his arrest, trial, and crucifixion drawing near, Jesus reclined at a meal, aware of those seeking to kill him. In this episode a woman anointed Jesus with expensive perfume as an expression of gratitude to him. “Some of those present” were quick to react. Without waiting for her to leave, “they rebuked her harshly.” John specifically identified Judas raising this complaint, hiding his hypocrisy behind a concern for the poor (cf. John 12:4-5).
Notice Jesus’ confrontation. “Leave her alone,” he said. He knew God’s plan. The cross was just ahead. He knew he would soon face death and probably a criminal’s burial, which would mean no anointing of the body. Therefore, her act was “a beautiful thing.” Jesus wasn’t dismissing the need to care for the poor, but preparation for his burial was also appropriate.
Notice that Mark concludes the account with Judas’s arranging to betray Jesus. In contrast, the woman’s lavish sacrifice serves as an example of expressing gratitude and devotion to him. Here we see the difference of attitude in someone saved by grace and in someone on a power trip, seeking selfish success!
We ought to ask what motivates us? When we have new life in Christ, how do we express our gratitude?