BaptistWay: The woman of Bethany: Honoring Jesus extravagantly

 • This BaptistWay lesson for Feb. 10 focuses on Mark 14:1-9.

 • Download a powerpoint resource for this lesson here.

Several years ago, I asked my sweet wife a question I think may have scared her a little: “Does it matter to you what I put on my gravestone?” I asked. “Do you have something to tell me?” she replied.

And so began a rather interesting conversation about my death. I’m in good health and all of 41 years old. My hilarious author friend and church member Brenda Miles says I’m still “wet behind my ears.” Only two things are planned at this point upon my death. First, my baseball card collection will be equally divided among my three sons. Second, my gravestone will read “He Did What He Could.”

The story before us is awe-inspiring. Several things are rather incredible. Did you catch the location? It takes place at the home of “Simon the Leper “ (v. 3). Was he formerly a leper or currently a leper during the story? The story doesn’t indicate, but it is yet another powerful clue into the extravagant love of Jesus the Christ.

As Jesus often did, he came to the defense of a woman. It seems in Jesus’ world, chivalry certainly lived. In fact, while naysayers continue to say Christianity is limiting to women, I believe Christianity raises women to the position history has not, and in some instances still will not. Jesus raises their importance to the level of men. They are ontologically equal. While cultures of past and present have tried to suppress women (even in Jesus’ own day), he treated them with incredible dignity and respect. This truth easily could be lost in this story.

Jesus allowing the woman of Bethany to anoint him simply is incredible. How did she know? Had she listened to his teaching about his death? Did she even know her act was a preparation for his death? Was this simply an act of kindness to a dear friend? What was on her mind? How long did she have that jar of expensive perfume?

There is an amazing hymn in the 1991 Baptist Hymnal titled “Christmas has its Cradle.” Ironically, it is in the death of Jesus section of the hymnal, not in the Christmas section. It tells the story of each gift brought to Jesus by the wise men. Myrrh also is a nard or perfume. The hymn proclaims, “Myrrh alone stayed with him, death’s balm for this boy.” It truly is a haunting hymn, even written in a minor key to evoke a feeling of sadness and grief. It is amazing to think Jesus was given the gift of a burial spice, or perfume, two times in his life. There is much to ponder here.

And perhaps that is part of the reason Jesus so readily received her gift, the special anointing. Of course, she could have sold the perfume and given the proceeds to the poor. Somehow, I think Jesus would have found that to be a beautiful act as well. But she chose to lavish her Savior instead. Jesus proclaimed this as not wasteful at all, rather a beautiful act.

This story reminds me of the widow’s mite. The widow gave all she had. The woman at Bethany gave something of great value. But unlike the onlookers who surround Jesus in these two stories, these women gave cheerfully. Each gave fully. Each gave as an act of worship.

It seems neither the disciples nor the Pharisees understood these gifts. Jesus was quick to reprimand these men in the story. Now that I think about it, it seems Jesus only reprimands men. Hmmm. Food for thought.

Inspiration and application Both my grandfathers were dead when I was born. I had two really incredible grandmothers who made up for it. Nanny (my maternal grandmother) lived with my family most of my life. She was like a second parent to me. She had polio as a child and suffered a great deal in life because of it. I don’t recall her ever complaining, despite her disability. She consistently did for others in the face of great physical adversity.

Late in her life, Nanny no longer was feeling useful in God’s kingdom. She was homebound and not able to be active in church any longer. I encouraged her to pray for missionaries as an act of service and usefulness in God’s kingdom. I gave her a list with names and nothing more. Of course, she had no Internet or even a computer for that matter.

When I performed my Nanny’s funeral, I asked if I could use her Bible. It was well worn. (I like a billboard that reads: “People whose Bibles are worn out, don’t .“) In her Bible, I found that missionary list along with some addresses. Come to find out, she called the Mission Board (I guess) and got the addresses for the missionaries she was praying for. Later, I discovered she had written each of them, several times, simply to say she was praying for them and believing God would use them in great ways.

There will always be only one Billy Graham. God is not going to give us another. You don’t have to be anything like Dr. Graham to be useful in God’s kingdom. Be yourself. Do things in God’s kingdom that bring you great joy. Or do things in God’s kingdom that bring others great joy. Most importantly, do things in God’s kingdom that bring God great joy.

The woman at Bethany couldn’t do everything. So, she did something simple.

She did what she could.

Since we are morphing your Bible study group into a “Bible-doing “ group, I want to suggest these applications for this week:

1. Choose someone in your community in great need. Do something for them collectively. But be quiet about it. Be secretly awesome.

2. As we all know, some of the most overlooked people in our society reside in nursing homes. These precious people are of high value to our Heavenly Father. Why not adopt a nursing home patient as a class? Even if someone from the group went just once a month, it would be such a blessing to that person. I have discovered over the years that people in nursing homes are hungry for the gospel. Nothing extravagant. Simply do what you can.

3. Read the above-mentioned hymn to your Bible study group. There is much to ponder in this hymn.