Pragmatism is coupled with purpose throughout scripture, yet there is also an innate correlation with the supernatural reality of God’s will. The Bible contains layers of truth intertwined in multiple levels of significance and possesses nuanced perspectives that balance historical truth and cultural elements with broader theological teachings. Understanding first century Jewish society helps open the doors to deeper insight into the New Testament and ultimately into the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Two days before the Passover, Jesus, who was about to depart for Jerusalem and the culmination of his earthly ministry, shared a meal at the house of Simon the Leper. Not much information is provided about Simon, other than, as his name would imply, he once had leprosy and was now a Pharisee as he is called in Luke’s narrative. “While He was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.” (Mark 14:3).
IT WAS THE CUSTOM
It was the custom in those days to welcome someone to your home by greeting them with a kiss, washing their feet and anointing their head with oil. Oil was also used in the making of a covenant, such as the transfer of property or the betrothal of a bride. Nard or Spikenard is a class of aromatic amber-colored essential oil derived from Nardostachys jatamansi, a flowering plant of the valerian family which grows in the Himalayas of Nepal, China and India. It was offered on the specialized incense alter when the Tabernacle was located in the First and Second Jerusalem Temples.
Because Nard was an imported item, it was very expensive and in Mark’s gospel account, we gain an appreciation that it was of extreme value and not something that would be wasted. So, when this woman broke the jar (alabaster jars were usually made in such a way that they had to be broken to be emptied) and proceeded to pour its contents on Jesus, the onlookers reacted. “Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, ‘Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.’ And they rebuked her harshly.” (Mark 14:4-5). If you contemplate a year’s wages in today’s dollars, you can see why they would think this way.
Luke’s description emphasizes her attention to Jesus’ feet rather than his head, “A woman in that town who had lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. She then wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
When the Pharisee saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, He would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner.’” (Luke 7:37-39).
TRANSCENDENT INTIMATIONS
Christ’s response to the woman and her opposers in both accounts not only offers a lesson in humility we can all learn but holds very profound and transcendent intimations. Jesus chastises those who are critical of the immense sacrifice this woman is making. Acknowledging that her heart is breaking as she attends to Him, He elevates her as an example for everyone.
To the pharisee, “Jesus answered him, ‘Simon, I have something to tell you.’ ‘Tell me, teacher,’ he said.
‘Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?’
Simon replied, ‘I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.’
‘You have judged correctly,’ Jesus said.
Then He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give Me any water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give Me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing My feet. You did not put oil on My head, but she has poured perfume on My feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.’” (Luke 7:40-47).
In Mark, Jesus directs His divine dialogue to those who rebuked the woman, “’Leave her alone,’ said Jesus. ‘Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to Me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them anytime you want. But you will not always have Me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on My body beforehand to prepare for My burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.’” (Mark 14:6-9).
The sincerity of the woman’s repentance is reflected in her humility and reverence, the value of her sacrifice and her selfless actions regardless of how others perceive her. The house of a Pharisee would be a hostile environment for her to enter at any time and this day it was full of guests, nevertheless she braves the embarrassment and reaches out to Jesus seeking forgiveness. This obviously touches the heart of Jesus and He responds by freely giving her a full pardon for her sins.
For some reason people often feel compelled to get right with God before they seek forgiveness, as if somehow, they can gain God’s favor by doing good. This story illustrates how all God asks of us is a sincere and contrite heart. It sums up the entire reason for the ministry of Christ, how the blood of bulls and rams could never reconcile man to God, how religion is action but without men’s hearts, it is empty. It demonstrates love and compassion, how none of us are in a position to judge others, and how the meek will inherit the kingdom of God. There is so much wrapped up in this scene that we can learn and apply in our own lives however there is even more hidden beneath the layers in this passage of scripture.
IN PREPARATION FOR HIS BURIAL
Jesus says that the woman has anointed His body beforehand in preparation for His burial. I am sure the significance of this comment was not apparent to those in the room, however what transpired in the days following is enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and give you goosebumps.
Preparation of the body for burial included washing it and wrapping it in shrouds. The corpse was anointed with oil and then washed with water as a ritual of purification called Tahara. In the same way that a baby is washed and begins life clean and pure, the dead are washed when they leave this life. The custom of washing a dead body is referenced in Acts 9:37, with the death of Tabitha.
When Joseph of Arimathea came to take Jesus’ body and prepare it for burial, it was already close to evening when the Sabbath would begin. He needed to lay it in the tomb and leave the washing for after the Sabbath according to Jewish law. The Gospels record that both Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph saw where Jesus had been laid, and determined to come back on the first day of the week with spices and perfumes and rest on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
When they returned to the tomb on the Sunday morning to anoint Jesus’ body, He was not there. “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” (Luke 24:1-3).
And so, it came to pass that circumstances prevented the washing and anointing of Jesus’ body after his death therefore, the woman who poured oil onto Jesus and washed His feet with her tears at Simon the Leper’s house had indeed anointed His body beforehand to prepare for His burial. When Jesus fulfilled the Law through His death as a sacrifice, once for all, it possessed huge implications upon the very core of not only Jewish values but humanity’s values.
The Bible is like a layer cake of scriptures with deep rich flavors and hidden treasures. It is as profound in its implications as it is simple in its narratives. Its message is transcendent, and its truth resonates through historical, cultural and theologically nuanced perspectives that contain a pragmatism that is dovetailed with metaphysical revelation.
