Three Humble Women

Scripture For The Day  

June 30, 2023

There are three different occasions recorded in which Jesus was anointed by a woman. Matthew and Mark record the same event. Luke and John each tell of a different time, with different women. 

Luke tells us about a time in the home of Simon the Pharisee about a year before Jesus’ died on The Cross. Simon the Pharisee neglected to do what was customarily done for guests that came for a meal. A sinful woman hearing about Jesus eating at the Pharisee’s house snuck in and brought expensive perfume in an alabaster box- which was customary at that time to hold. She stood at Jesus’ feet crying. Then she began to wash His feet with her tears and dry them with her hair. She kissed his feet many times and rubbed them with perfume. Simon in all his arrogance thought to himself – “if this man were truly a prophet, He would know that this woman who is touching Him is a sinner!” But Jesus can hear our thoughts and used that event to teach Simon about forgiveness. Refer to Luke 7:39-50 (This woman and her love for Jesus speaks to my heart so much)

John tells us of a time when Mary the sister of Lazarus and Martha anointed Jesus’ feet with high-priced perfume at a dinner in Bethany. This time the event takes place six days before the Passover and Judas complains of the waste of money.  Refer to John 12

 The event that Matthew and Mark records is of an unnamed woman who anointed Jesus with expensive perfume also from an alabaster box just a few days before Passover, not long before He was crucified. Jesus was at Simon the leper’s home having a meal when this woman came in and anointed his head with expensive perfume. It was worth more than a year’s wages. Again, others present were angry at the extravagant waste of money. But Jesus let them know that He would not be with them much longer and that she had done a beautiful thing to Him without realizing it, she was preparing His body for burial. Refer to Matthew 26 and Mark 14

Each of these three women anointed Jesus with expensive perfume and showed their love for Him with no concern for what anyone else had to say. Though they didn’t fully understand, they listened to the calling upon their hearts. Jesus used the first event to teach about forgiveness.  The other two were not long before He was crucified and those events showed a preparation of anointing for His death and burial.  An interesting word tidbit is that Messiah means ‘anointed one’. Christ means “anointed one”. Let us learn from these ladies to heed the calling upon our hearts to serve The Lord in whatever way He leads us, regardless of what anyone else says. *Still on she came though the shame had flushed her face, til at last she knelt before His feet*