WHAT SHE HAS DONE

GETTING THE STORY RIGHT

The text tells us that Jesus was in the house of Simon the Leper who resided in Bethany. we should establish a couple of things from that start. First this event requires very careful study because it would be easy to cross up what appears to be two similar incidents. What do I mean? Well, Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9; Luke 7:37-39, and John 12:1-8 all seem to relate to the same story. However, look a little closer.

Matthew 26:6–13 NASB95

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? “For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. “For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. “For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. “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.”

Mark 14:3–9 NASB95

While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head. But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? “For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. “For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. “She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. “Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”

Luke 7:37–39 NASB95

And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”

John 12:1–8 NASB95

Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. “For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

Luke’s gospel is the one that throws us into a quandary because it’s timing and main idea are not consistent with the other narratives. John’s account parallels Luke in that it tells us that the Oil was poured on the feet of Jesus; but, it differs as to the location in which the event takes place. And so, biblical scholars generally agree that these are two separate events.

Even in the accounts that seem to line up as the same event, there are nuances that cause us to ponder the sameness of the incident. But, the real question that we want to ask is today is what is this text trying to teach us? As I read the text, the main idea that jumps out at me is the words of Jesus concerning this woman in Matthew 26:13. In the Spirit of National Women’s History Month on this glorious Palm Sunday, Let’s look at “WHAT SHE HAS DONE”.

Matthew 26:13 NASB95

“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.”

SHE WENT TO WHERE JESUS WAS

SHE CAME TO GIVE

SHE WORSHIPED AGAINST OPPOSITION

THE DISCIPLE’S INDIGNATION

THE DISCIPLE’S AGITATION

SHE SECURED A PERMANENT PLACE IN HISTORY

BY MAKING HIM THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN HER LIFE

REMEMBER…ONLY WHAT YOU DO FOR CHRIST WILL LAST