Daily Devotional

This woman likely did not know what to do with herself.  She stirred in the middle of the night in her bed.  She wrestled around early in the morning.  This Jesus had accomplished some kind of transformation in her life.  He had somehow opened her heart to the vistas of heaven.

What should she do?  She felt she wanted to do something.  She probably had no Scripture verses to read to give her instruction.  She likely did not know how to read.  But, something needed to be done.

She was not a man.  She was not in any circles to be invited into or even accepted into Jesus’ presence.  But some kind of “mission” was on her heart.  Not anything like the men around Him would do.  But something.

Something was pouring out of her heart.  Some kind of release was needed! She dressed and prepared herself for the day.  She remained restless.  She grabbed the vial of perfume, and headed out.  She knew where Jesus was, but was unsure as to what she would find there.  Less sure of what she would do.

In her spirit she saw something.  She saw the Most High God of all creation sitting in a room, with people around.  But what was to be done with this holy Lord?  Not what everybody else was doing.  Could they not see his glory?  The radiance from Him?  Could they not feel His love?  Did they not have an urge to exalt Him?  How could she be that close and make no expression of love or gratitude or worship?  How could they?

Compelled by His glory and consumed in her love, she moves forward.  She approaches Jesus, and removes the cap from her alabaster vial.  She is aware of nothing except this consuming passion to give glory and honor to Jesus.  She sees herself with little to offer, little to do.

The closer she gets, the more overwhelmed with Jesus’ radiance and His glory she becomes.  As she nears Him, she bows the knee.  She is speechless.  She anoints Him with her greatest treasure.  The emotions of her heart explode and pour forth as the perfume trickles down Jesus’ hair and clothing.  Her very being is a part of that perfume.  All her love and gratitude and worship flow out of her, one with the perfume flowing lovingly down His being.

Having completed her task, her heart and perfume having been poured out, she rises up in solemn union with Christ, turns, and begins to move away.  She knows in her spirit that she has done something unique, special, something eternal.  Her act of love and worship is complete.

She files out among the astonished men, makes her way outside, and ambles in an almost drunken state toward her home.

Her life will never be the same.  She enters her house and sits down.  She reflects on the glory of Christ she witnessed, and remains consumed with His beauty and His love.  She knows that something beyond belief had happened, and would never be forgotten.  Not by her.  Not in the world.  Not in the annals of the eternal history in the celestial city.  Not ever!

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation