pondering fragrant oil

Pondering "the question" again...What is Worship?

We were discussing in our class recently Mary who washed Jesus' feet...and trying to put her in modern day context. A couple of things that we concluded:

• she was a woman that respected religious leaders look down on
• she had a dodgy background, probably she was acquainted with the ways of the world
  
• and she had money, took about a years salary to buy some exquisite oil - only to pour it out empty on the feet of the Lord

I like to think of this Mary as a performance artist, and yet I will not pretend to even be able to scratch the surface in meanings of this act of worship - we do know that she was taking some big risks...risking her reputation - what important people thought of her...risking her future as she poured out her future financial security on His feet. I believe Mike Bickle, in his book,Passion for Jesus: Cultivating Extravagant Love for God really unpacks this much better than I can.



...lets just camp on the expensive oil part....many of us can't imagine an oil that would cost tens of thousands of dollars (remembering it cost about a years wage). We think, extra virgin olive oil from the supermarket is under $10. Now if there are any aromatherapists reading this, they are acquainted with expensive, exquisite oil....I will not pretend to be knowledgable in this area, I do know that a one oz bottle of some oils like real rose absolute can be as much as $100 or more...

In one translation it says that the "fragrance of the oil filled the house".....Oh Lord that the fragrance of worship would fill our homes, gatherings and lives...drawing a dieing world to the feet of the Lord.

Image from this artisan's website.