Fragrance of perfume
Jesus came to Bethany and there they gave a dinner for him. The friends gathered, the talked and ate together. Martha served and her brother Lazarus was at the table with them. How thankful they must have been that Lazarus was there, alive and released from the tomb by Jesus.
Things were normal again, Lazarus was well and the friends could gather each taking their familiar place.
And then Mary changed things. Mary who had sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to him, Mary who had wept at Jesus’ feet outside her brother’s tomb. Mary broke all conventions now in one costly extravagant action as she took costly perfume and poured it over Jesus’ feet before wiping them with her hair. An extravagant, intimate and fragrant action. “The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume”
Some protested at the extravagance. Some thought the perfume could have been better used, could have benefitted more deserving people, could be sold to raise money for the poor.
Jesus, friend of the poor, friend of all, received the gift and through it pointed to his own mortality. The blessing of his physical presence was to be treasured and celebrated, it was to end all too soon. The fragrance of the perfume filled the house but would disperse and be held as a profound memory, recalling presence, laughter, friendship and extravagant life-giving love.
When such physical companionship was no longer possible the love would remain. And after death would come new life, new hope and new joy. But for now this was only a promise, a promise barely heard and not yet understood; a promise of restoration, life and joy.
Fragrance of perfume,
given in love;
Fragrance of perfume,
anointing the flesh;
Fragrance of perfume,
blessing of God.
Fragrance of perfume,
filling the house;
Fragrance of perfume,
filling my life;
Fragrance of perfume,
aroma of grace.
(based on John 12:3)
©Ruth M Gee
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