What This Woman Has Done

by Zeke Flores

Writing these words this morning is a privilege as, one more time, I am proving Jesus' prediction true.

In Matthew 26:6-13, Jesus was visiting a leper (!) and was anointed by a woman using very costly perfume. Matthew doesn’t give her name, background, what moved her to get that jar of ointment, where she got it, or how much she spent on it. All we know from this story is what she did—this one selfless act. She anointed Jesus’ head with oil. Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One. Jesus promised that wherever the gospel is preached, “what this woman has done will be spoken in memory of her” (Matthew 26:13).

Why?

Because she held nothing back, she gave her best -and all of it- to Jesus. And the disciples got angry. They thought they had a better idea. “We should have sold it and given the money to the poor,” they said.

Jesus acknowledges the ongoing problem of poverty but insists that what the woman had done was right. I believe it’s because when we give our best -and all of it- to Jesus, He uses us as a conduit for His grace and goodwill toward others. Honoring God and helping others go together. Honoring God and glorifying His Son alleviates suffering in others, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. It’s a reaffirmation of Jesus’ citation of “the greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-40).

So, prove Jesus right again. Honor God, help others, and remember what this woman has done.

"Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her" (Matthew 26:13).