“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. –Matthew 26: 6-10
Jesus was always willing to share a meal with the people of the community in which he was preaching. Sometimes, it was a meal with his disciples, sometimes with friends. On some occasions, the meal was with large crowds and other times with a small group of strangers in a new friend’s home.
On one occasion, while in Bethany, Jesus went to eat at the house of Simon the Leper. This was a radical decision. Leprosy is a scary disease. No one in Jesus’ time knew how it was transmitted. When a person was found to be a leper, they were cut off from their family and their community. This is how people protected themselves. Although the community was protected, those with leprosy were shunned. It is in the house of a leper that Jesus dares to go and eat. While in this house, a woman comes and pours a large container of perfume on the feet of Jesus.
Those who were in the room for dinner and witnessed this amazing event were shocked. This was a lavish offering poured out on Jesus. There were mixed reactions in the room. Jesus found this woman’s actions to be a blessing while his disciples were “indignant.” Jesus takes a moment to teach his disciples and offers a reminder to us today. He tells them, in fact, he makes it clear that it was “A beautiful thing.” There were many troublesome things in the story of this dinner. The attitude of the disciples was far from a pretty thing. They were more concerned with the cost of the perfume than they were amazed at the sacrificial act performed by this woman. During this challenging moment, a beautiful thing is done.
The woman at Simon the Leper’s house reminds us that a good deed is something we should never regret. When we take time to bless others, it is a beautiful thing. It changes a difficult and scary time into a beautiful thing. As Jesus’ disciples, we know we are called to bring beauty to this world. Living a life of service and sacrifice will bring beauty to a world that needs the gifts of love we have to offer.
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
