Mark 14.1-11 tells the story of an unnamed woman that creates a stir by anointing Jesus with a ridiculously expensive aromatic oil. Let’s unpack the story and see if we can get a glimpse of what may have caused such a flash in that ancient social pan. And maybe along the way we might just extract some significance for our own lives.
Mark tells us that the incident takes place during the feast known as Passover. And that Jesus' enemies were plotting out the most politically expedient way to arrest and kill him. Now the Passover was the ancient equivalent of a national holiday. Like the American 4th of July celebration I imagine most people were just glad to have off work, to be with family, and to drink and eat way more than is really necessary for survival. But like the 4th of July celebration there would have been a deeper symbolic significance to the celebration as well. I wonder if it is appropriate to view The Passover as the ancient Jewish Independence Day. It seems to me that the Passover defined a people that had once been slaves but had become an independent nation through the power of a liberating God known as Yahweh. There was a reason that Passover made imperial Rome more than a bit nervous.
Now Mark tells us that Jesus is enjoying a good meal at the table of a man known as Simon the Leper. Unlike the plotting priests at the Temple center of Jewish life Jesus is on the social edge just chowing down on some chalah bread with people excluded from the sacred precincts of power and prestige. I wonder if these were people that still had the audacity to consider themselves included under the tent of a liberating God. Is it possible that Jesus just loved being with people that wouldn’t let the narrow interests of those in power totally exclude them from a promise as expansive as the world itself?
Enter the unnamed woman and heroine of the story. Ironic that no one bothered to record her name in a story that Jesus said would be told in memory of her! But those at the bottom of the social ladder well know the reality of being a nameless nobody.
So the woman brings with her a jar of obscenely expensive aromatic oil that she is about to drop like a grenade onto a playground. She swiftly breaks it open and pours it on Jesus' head to the dismay of all and disapproval of some of those present. The extravagance rankles some. Or maybe they were just hiding behind a façade of concern for the poor? Nevertheless the comment is made that the oil could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Surprisingly maybe, Jesus doesn’t side with those that side with the poor in this instance. Instead he defends the woman’s controversial action and gives her a place at the table of his most trusted disciples. In fact, this unnamed woman becomes the prototypical disciple in Mark’s gospel. In a world of posers, wannabees, and imitations she is the real deal!
Let’s look at her action a little more closely. She poured the aromatic oil on Jesus’ head. Anointing was a powerful act in the ancient world. It is something that was done to kings and priests as a way to signify their ascent to power. Her act is reminiscent of the prophet Samuel anointing David to kingship outside of the established kingship of Saul. Ironically, it is an unnamed woman that anoints Jesus as king outside of the authorized channels of power. Hers was a very subversive act in that ancient culture. And Jesus embraced and defended her in doing it.
Jesus was no defender of status quo with its established traditions. In this case he elevated a woman that rebelled against narrow social constraints and had the audacity to perform an act typically reserved for male prophets and priests. Ironically, it was an anointing of a king for burial! Such is the upside-down wisdom of the gospel story. The gospel is a story that turns the world on its head by elevating the status of an unnamed woman and promoting the cause of a crucified king.
Anyway, it’s a great gospel story. And it leaves me wondering about the implications for my own life and culture.
