Her solution was lotion, lots and lots of lotion. And I quickly developed an abhorrence of that greasy, gooky feeling.
The problem was my elbows. For some reason, my mother decided that my elbows were extraordinarily rough, “they’re like elephant knees!” Now there’s a self-confidence booster. Evidentially, (who knew?) the skin on my elbows is particularly bumpy and tough. Given that my elbows worked just fine, and, frankly, I couldn’t really see the backs of my elbows, the fact that they were a bit on the rough side to the touch never really bothered me. What did bother me, however, was the liberal application of goopy, slimy lotion, intended to “soften up” my elbows. Gross.
I am lucky, I suppose, that I did not live in the Middle East during the New Testament era. One of the prime favors shared with one another was the use of oil on the skin. This had medicinal benefits, emotional commitments, social blessings and spiritual significance. In the hot sun and arid climate, the skin was susceptible to drying out, cracking and toughening up. As “Oil of Olay” was not yet available, regular old oil was a great healing balm. To provide bountiful oil for one’s skin was to express one’s joy in seeing another, a welcoming embrace, a gift of love. Producing oil was possible only in light of divine blessings—God’s provision of the land, rain, harvest and production. Thus, the use of oil on the body carried a great significance for God’s people.
Of course, oil was used in many ways in the biblical era: lighting lamps, cooking, comfort. Significantly, olive oil was part of the grain offerings, one dedicated as fellowship and thanks to the Lord (Leviticus 2). Because it was prolific throughout Jewish culture, olive oil became association with the richness, joy and health of a community blessed by God (Jeremiah 31). The absence of an olive crop and its oil describes a season of judgment (Joel 1:10). Because of this connection, key positions and people in Israel were anointed with oil as a sign of God’s goodness and commendation (some examples are the kings in 1 Samuel 16, the priests in Exodus 29 and even the tabernacle furnishings in Exodus 40).
It is unsurprising, then, that the use of olive oil became associated with the gift, presence and holiness of the Spirit (for instance, Matthew 25:13). When the prophet Samuel anointed David as king with oil, “the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward” (1 Samuel 16:13). Being set apart for a special purpose, signifying divine favor and blessing, marked by the Spirit, was often accompanied by the anointing with oil (see 1 John 2:20; Acts 10:38; Isaiah 61:1). Like the role of oil in everyday life, the presence of the Spirit sanctifies us, fills us, readies us to see Christ and brings us light, joy and spiritual health.
This week in worship we read of the anointing of Jesus with a perfumed oil, the significance of which should not be underestimated. Of course, that is exactly what the disciples do—underestimate significance of the event. As we worship our Lord together, let’s strive, through prayer, not to make the same mistake, but to understand Jesus’ anointing as the marvelous blessing that it was.
For worship this week, read Mark 14:1-9.
- We are just two days before His arrest and crucifixion, yet the scribes and priests are afraid of Jesus’ popularity (verse 1-2). What does this tell us about the nature of human beings?
- What does the description of the owner of the house as “Simon the leper” imply about Jesus? Why was He there?
- In verse 3, the woman “breaks the jar” as a way of opening it and getting the perfume out. What does this imply about her attitude and understanding of what she is doing?
- Jesus’ comment about the poor—“you will always have them with you”—can be taken in various ways depending on what kind of tone Jesus was using. Try it on—imagine various tones in your mind as you repeat that line (disgusted, resigned, pleased, wary). What tone do you think Jesus was using? How would you label it?
- How would you describe the “priority list” that some might derive from this passage? What is most important? What priorities guide our use of money?
By Henry Knapp