“Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.” – Matthew 26:6-13
Two days before Jesus goes to the cross in the most loving sacrifice in history, we are placed in Wednesday of Passion Week. Jesus has been graciously showing his disciples over and over that he was the Messiah and that his time had finally come. He takes his last week and carefully shares vital spiritual truths before he had to die. On this day, there are two specific events that took place.
First, an unnamed woman from the town of Bethany came up to Jesus and had a very expensive ointment to pour on Jesus’ head. Some even believe this was the price of about a whole years wage. The disciples were not happy that this lady would waste so much money just to pour on Jesus head when she could have used that money for the poor. Jesus quickly rebukes the disciples and shares an important message with them. The disciples were more worried about the potential money this woman could have had instead of her sacrificial giving to the Lord. The unnamed woman did not count her losses in blessing the Lord, but she was perfectly at peace with giving all she had to bless the Lord.
The second event that happened is that Judas went to the chief priests and sold out the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. The contrast between the unnamed woman and Judas is frightening. Both Judas and the unnamed woman were worshiping their Lord on this day. The unnamed woman worshiped Jesus while Judas worshiped money. There will always be a crossroad for the Lord of your life. Judas made his devotion clear by selling out Jesus for his Lord, money. For the woman, she made her devotion clear by giving a large sum for anointing for her Lord, Jesus. On this Passion Week Wednesday, think about where your devotion lies.
Reflection:
When you read about this Holy Wednesday who do you relate with the most? Are you the nameless woman who brings all that she has to the head of Jesus, or are you a seemingly close follower of Jesus who just wants to be rewarded any way you can?
It is possible that you are like one of the disciples and you are more concerned with what you can do instead of recognizing the exaltation of Jesus. Wherever you relate on this Wednesday, remember that Jesus became and now is the risen Savior who deserves nothing less than all that we have!