Wonderful, Surprising Aroma
Text and antitext: Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume."
Take a minute to ask yourself, "What do I expect from God?"
We may have a variety of expectations: that we or those we love will be spared from tragedy, loss or even the experience of horrific evil because of God and our trust in God. I can't tell you how many times I have heard people say as we were together in a hospital emergency room or their own living rooms, "Why is this happening to me, to us, to my daughter, son, mother or father?" I also have to confess, that sometimes I have asked these same questions of God, "Why me? Why them? Why now?"
At other times our expectations of God may be less intense, less immediate but still self centered. "O God, I hope my team can win." "God, it sure would be nice to get that promotion, or that job." Maybe asking God in such ways, isn't specifically for ourselves but for others: our children, our grandchildren, our friends. Whatever the case, such expectations of God border on the magical. Say a prayer, "rub the genie in the bottle" for the advantage of ourselves or someone close to us. Might any of this be part and parcel of our expectations of God?
I remember family friends. They were exceedingly generous. While we were in our early 20's they would give me $100 at Christmas to help with my own seminary costs. These days that would translate into at least $1000.00. Shortly after that particular Christmas their dad, John, then in his late 40's, was diagnosed with bone cancer. As time passed all the signs pointed to the reality that John was quickly nearing the end of his life. John and his family were people of deep Christian faith. Over the months of his illness he had come to accept his death. But his wife and three sons were not near such acceptance. They were convinced that God would somehow deliver their dear husband and father. One night filled with hope and taking a biblical promise literally they had invited the elders of their church to come and pray over their beloved husband and father. They were convinced that God would heal him. The elders did come. They did earnestly pray. They lovingly anointed John's head with oil. It was powerfully moving. Then the elders left. Only a few hours later John died. He was just 49. He left a wife, three sons under the age of 22 and 2 businesses that none of them were equipped to run.
So, what do we expect from God?
Jesus had arrived for an intimate dinner with his close friends Lazarus, Mary and Martha. It was extra special because not that long ago Lazarus had died. Any of you who have been with a sibling, a parent, or a close friend as they journey towards and through death realize what a profound experience that is. Your lives and the lives of those there with you can never be the same. But this was particularly unique. You see, Jesus hadn't arrived to be with Mary and Martha until after Lazarus had died. Upon his arrival Jesus too had been caught up in his own grief. He had wept. But in the midst of his grief Jesus also acted. He walked to where Lazarus' dead body was. Then Jesus called Lazarus to come out! From the depths and stench of death Lazarus is brought out. He is still wrapped in his grave clothes but Lazarus is alive! Jesus has given him new life.
Now, not too long after that amazing, mind blowing experience Jesus has come to share a meal with Lazarus and his sisters. But we need to know, it's far from safe for him to do so. After Jesus had raised Lazarus, the religious establishment was up in arms. Too many people were beginning to trust and follow Jesus. From their perspective that will never do. So, the powers of the religious establishment have decided to seek Jesus' death and even the death of Lazarus. When power feels threatened there is no limit to what it will attempt to do. Bethany, the location of Lazarus' home is only 2 miles from Jerusalem, the home of the religious powers that be. Nevertheless, Jesus comes anyway to eat with his close friends!
Now, the meal has begun. Mary does an amazing thing. She takes an entire pound of perfume that would take a full year's wages to purchase. Then, she lovingly pours all of it on Jesus' feet. Yes, his feet! Then Mary lets down her hair – something that Jewish women were not to do in public, bends over and then with her hair she begins to wipe the perfume from Jesus' feet. Can you imagine such intimacy? The fragrance of the perfume fills the house. Some are moved to silence. Others are moved to question.
Judas, one of Jesus' disciples voices his question. It borders upon the accusatory. "Why was this perfume not sold and the money given to the poor?" Now the author offers an insight. He tells us that Judas was a thief. In all likelihood Judas would have stolen some of the money if it had been placed in the common purse.
Jesus is not deterred by Judas question. Instead Jesus argues with Judas. Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy chapter 15, "You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
This passage may be among the most misinterpreted of any Scripture passages. Some have attempted to "use" this passage to justify their own lack of concern or action on behalf of the poor and vulnerable. This is not Jesus' intent. His quotation comes from a passage where God is exhorting the people of Israel to open their hands generously to the poor, because the poor are ever present and always in need. That need is to be honored.
But now, only a few days before Lazarus' death, Jesus is saying that Mary's act of extravagantly anointing his feet is amazingly wonderful. Somehow she has come to trust that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Her anointing his feet is preparing him for burial. If a living person is to be anointed, it is upon their head over that oil is poured, a crown or hands placed. In anointing his feet, Mary is most assuredly preparing Jesus for burial.
Interestingly, only a short time later, on the night before his death, Jesus undertakes a similarly surprising action. Also at a meal with his disciples he serves them, including Judas, by washing their dirty stinky feet. Immediately following, he calls upon them do the same saying that as their Lord he has come not to be served but to serve. They should go and do likewise.
Yet like Judas and the religious authorities of the day, like the early disciples we often resist Jesus' overtures and commands. We are sorely tempted to buy into our society's mantra that attempts to cajole us into believing that our overarching goal should be to be served not to serve. We are also instructed not to trust others, instead to be ever fearful. Finally we are part of a culture that demands proof. Remember: THERE ARE ONLY 2 SURE THINGS – DEATH AND TAXES.
But such so-called certainties do not even begin to take God into account. God is full of surprises which often includes extravagant gifts towards God's people and the rest of creation. God, the ongoing Creator of the universe, the One who dares to become human in Jesus of Nazareth (of all places), miraculously, surprising also comes to us, to all people, including Judas, with incomprehensible love, through jaw dropping service and expectation shattering vulnerability. Jesus comes to live with loving service and so to die. None of this occurs in ways that we could ever expect, nor in locales that we would predict. So it is that Jesus allows his feet to be anointed by Mary – who has begun to see that he will die, but somehow seems to have a sense that Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
In and through his death and resurrection Jesus serves God by calling us to come out from all that binds us. His Spirit is sent to enable us to do that! He is not deterred by our resistance, by our doubt, hatred or fear. Even now he is calling to us by name, "COME OUT!" Jesus' sacrificial love is priceless, beyond any "worth" we could ever imagine or generate personally or internationally.
And so it is that on an early morning nearly forty years ago, the morning that my friend's dad died, we were gathered around his bed. His oldest son, deep in grief gave voice to his pain. "I thought God was going to heal Dad." The long silence that followed marked only by sobs was eventually interrupted by his middle brother who in placing his arm around his brother gently but clearly said, " I think God did heal Dad. Just not in the way we expected."
Surprise, surprise! God in Jesus Christ can and does move beyond our expectations with grace and truth such that far more than just a room, indeed so that the entire universe can be filled with the sweetest aroma.
Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief. Amen.