S.O.A.P. for 03/08/2009 Sweet Fragrance

S: Mark 14:3-9:
Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating,[a] a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.
But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time.I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

O: This woman had done something truly beautiful, touching, personal, for Jesus, whom she apparently loved dearly. The disciples, however, didn't see the "heart of the matter" and were more worried about the money that could have been made off of said sacrifice. Jesus reprimands them, reminding them that he would leave them soon, but they still did not understand. He understood the offering, and felt the love that was poured out from this woman, as her perfume was poured out on Him. He goes on to ensure that this one task, this one act of love, would be recorded and remembered throughout history! She would leave a beautiful legacy behind just by having played such a small part in the greatest story of all time.

A: What prompted her to do this? Maybe even she didn't know how significant this act of love was and yet, here Jesus proclaims that her story would endure. Maybe Jesus is expressing to us that what we do doesn't have to be big to be remembered, that maybe it's the smallest things that can mean the most, the one's done out of pure love and affection for our brother that will be more remembered that just a hand out. Yes, maybe she could have sold the perfume and fed everyone for a week, but would that have been AS special as something personal and truly affectionate? Would that have been worth remembering? Jesus could have fed them, but he couldn't have anointed himself for burial. She felt compelled to do so. How can we express God's love to those around us in real, physical ways? How can we literally touch someone? I feel as though it has become too easy to do something from a distance, rather than rub the shoulders of one who has had a tough day, hug someone dearly, "wash someone's feet". Somehow the "person" has been removed from the word "personal" and we see that more as of leaving a note, slipping some cash in, sending an email to just one person. hmmm.... Something is wrong with that picture.

Proverbs 29:7 says Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of friends counsel that comes from the heart.

P: Father God,
I love You so much, and cannot comprehend how it even grows day by day, when each day is just so glorious when walked in Your sight. I pray that I may learn to live my life as a sweet fragrance of Your grace, so wherever I go, I leave a piece of that fragrance in other's lives, building a true legacy, a story that will remain and teach other's of how they too can leave a fragrant mark reflective of You! Lord, help me be as this woman, help me to pour out my all to You, in all ways. Let me be a fragrant offering to You. You poured Your grace on me as a sweet smelling perfume, help me to spread Your fragrance everywhere! In Jesus name, Amen.

2 Corinthians 2:15-16
For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ, that exhales into God, discernible and different in aroma to those who are saved, and those who would perish; to the latter it is an aroma as death to death; to those who are saved, it is an aroma of life to life! And who is qualified for these things?


You did not feel what I felt when He wrapped His love all around me.
And you don't know the cost of the oil in my Alabaster Box.
*Cece Winans*