Anointed and Overflowing
/I knew that I wanted to return to Mary and Martha’s place leading up to Palm Sunday and to share the story of Jesus being anointed by Mary from John 12. It’s not the only story of His anointing by a woman, but it’s the only one where she is named.
A feast is happening with the resurrected Lazarus very much alive and celebrating with his sisters. Some of the disciples are there as well. No one could miss what was going on because the scent of the pound of perfume being poured on Jesus’ feet would have been overpowering. Judas, who we find out was a thief and who would later betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, complains loudly about the waste in this extravagance. Jesus quickly puts him in his place.
I’ve written about this story before, but I haven’t paired it in worship with the 23rd Psalm. Jesus was anointed as a priest by the Holy Spirit at His baptism when His official ministry began. Now, He is being anointed in preparation for His death, the real beginning of the end. Mary knew this was coming. She’d been able to hear and understand the big and little hints He’d been dropping for a while now. Out of devotion to her friend and teacher who had brought her brother back from the dead she did this intimate and vulnerable act of anointing her Lord.
Anointing has always seemed strange to me. I wouldn’t particularly want oil poured over my head. In the Bible it was used for health and comfort, to show honour and to consecrate, or make holy. It empowers someone to do something by God’s supernatural blessing and removes burdens and barriers to fulfilling a calling. Another post online about it says that it attracts helpers to you and advances and pushes you forward. More practically, it prepares a body for burial.
Those in ministry are gearing up for the busiest time of the year with multiple special services and emotionally taxing content and people with various needs coming out of the woodwork. As I reflect on the purpose of anointing I find myself realizing that it’s something I actually need to get through this time. Energy is low and yet I have more to do than I normally would. An added blessing from God which removes burdens and barriers and pushes me forward? Yes please!
No wonder Jesus accepted Mary’s precious gift so well and stood up for her in front of the others. While she may not have known all of the benefits to Him of doing this, He did. He knew the personal sacrifice involved, the vulnerability and the blessing of it. He knew her devotion and pre-emptive grief as the end drew near. He was again being given what He needed to make it through the final difficult days of His earthly life.
Psalm 23 tells us that in the midst of dark valleys and enemies, however they may be manifesting for us right now, God prepares a table for us to feed us and anoints us with oil. We are refreshed by the hospitality and care of God in the midst of whatever drama and overwhelm we are experiencing. When we listen for the shepherd’s voice we are led to the still waters that restore our soul. When we accept the invitation to God’s table we find protection and blessing that will allow us to continue.
Anointed isn’t often used in Presbyterian circles I run in. We can think of it as a more evangelical thing, of people talking about “anointed worship” or an anointed individual or ministry, as though some are better or more holy or channeled into God than others (which seems pretty subjective to me). But to come to the Lord’s table and allow ourselves to be pampered and empowered, nourished and restored? That’s not about others’ perceptions of us but about time between us and God. That’s about receiving what we need to get through what is coming.
May you find time to come to the table and allow yourself to be anointed by the One who made and loves you so much. May you be restored and strengthened by the Spirit so that your whatever God asks of you continues unhindered and you are refreshed for the next steps in the journey.