Matthew 26:1

“When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “As you know the Passover is two days away and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.'”

This was not something the disciples wanted to hear, ever.  Jesus was preparing them as best he could.  It must have been almost impossible for them to imagine what lay ahead.

Parables are  finished for now.  Story-time is over.  Now the atoning work is set in motion. Jesus, the Son of Man will be handed over by the Jews to the Romans to be crucified. Once again Jesus predicted his crucifixion, this time without reference to his Reconstruction. I wonder how the disciples could possible absorb this fact – that their Jesus will be killed by the Romans at the insistence of the Jews who where not allowed to kill. Jesus did not even mention anything about violent revolt.

There follow two scenes, the first, in the Jewish high priest’s place where the Jews were discussing their determination to rid the land of this Jesus!  “They plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him.” v 4

The second scene is in Bethany, near Jerusalem, in the home of Simon the Leper.  The loving atmosphere in that place bore no resemblance at all to the hate of the Jews in the palace of the high priest. “A woman came to him with and alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.” v 17

Jesus knew that the Jews and Romans were scheming on how to kill him.  We know now that his death had to be so that the sins of mankind could be forgiven. Unaware of this, presumably, a woman brought out her expensive oil used for anointing a dead body, broke it and poured all of it on Jesus’ feet – an outpouring of love beyond measure. I note how her love contrasted starkly with the hate of the Jews.  Matthew, the author, was deeply moved.

The disciples saw this use of costly perfume as a waste of money. Jesus saw it as a dam-breaking act of human love.

As I think of this memorable scene I am aware of what must have already happened to Simon who was himself in the past plagued with the detested leprosy!  Jesus must have healed him, as he did many lepers.  So this home was already a trophy of Jesus’ grace and healing power. The woman’s sacrifice of precious perfume, no doubt in the presence of the cured leper, filled the place with an atmosphere of praise and glory!  Heaven on earth. Meanwhile in the Jewish council, the stench of hate and death filled the place. The contrast is shocking indeed.