Fragrant Offering

Luke 7:36 -38 (NKJV) Then one of the Pharisees (Simon) asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 

Mark 14:4-6, 9 (NKJV) [emphasis added] But there were some (His disciples [Matthew 26:7], Judas Iscariot Simon’s son [John 12:4], and the Pharisee who had invited Him [Luke 7:39]) who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me…Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her. 

It is first interesting to note and understand the significance of where Mary was on her journey to where Jesus was. I believe it to be significant to the journey your heart has taken. Simon’s name means “listening, to be heard, reputation. His home was in Bethany (which means “house of dates” or “house of misery“) and Bethany was right at the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives was and still is one of the most well-known Jewish cemeteries in Israel. Bethany was next to the road that led from Jericho (means “Place of Fragrance“) to Jerusalem (means “foundation/possession of peace“…a place of completeness and wholeness). Continue reading “Fragrant Offering”