Lent Day 37 [4.16.2025] / My Alabaster Heart

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10 / 마태복음 28:1-10

John 13:17 - Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Overview:

A week before Jesus’ trial, He was in Bethany staying in the home of Simon the Leper. The bible gives us very little information about Simon beyond his title; however, we can safely assume that Jesus had healed him of his disease. Jesus was reclining at the table when a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. According to similar accounts found in Mark 14, Luke 7, and John 12, the woman was Lazarus’ and Martha’s sister Mary, and the perfume was an expensive nard, which she proceeded to pour over Jesus’ head after breaking the alabaster jar in which it was stored. At this, the disciples prompted by Judas Iscariot became indignant. They accused her of wasting such a great cost by pouring it over Jesus instead of selling it at a high price and giving the money to the poor. However, Jesus defends her against these accusations reminding them of the occasion:

“The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial (Matthew 26:11-12).”

The disciples were not evil in their passion for the poor but were misplaced in their understanding of what Jesus had come to do over all else. Jesus had preached, healed, and fed thousands upon thousands, but more than any of these actions, Jesus’ greatest purpose was to give up His life for all and become the lamb of sacrifice for our sins. This woman’s actions would be told throughout the world and for all eternity because she had prepared Jesus for His greatest moment that would grant all the gift of salvation.

The Greater Occasion:

When we invite a guest of honor over, do we spare any expense in the occasion? If our guest is held in high esteem, we bring out the choicest meal, drinks, and presentation; more than this, we prepare in advance whether it would be to marinate certain foods, prepare activities, or even clean our homes from top to bottom. The only one to recognize and honor the identity of and sacrifice that Jesus would endure was Mary. The nard was worth an entire year’s worth of wages and had been stored in an expensive jar that had a long neck to preserve and seal the ointment inside. Nard was so fragrant that it was used to cover the bodies of loved ones that had passed to overcome the smell of rotting flesh; and to be used, one would have to break the jar and generously pour out all its contents. Therefore, the use of such a precious oil was done with great care, intention, and reserved only for the highest guest or occasion; and how overjoyed was Mary to know that unlike the words of the disciples, her alabaster jar was not a waste, but exceedingly appropriate. Many would boast about how they had lavished an honored guest who had come to visit them, but who could compare with who Mary decided to adore? Mary had done an astonishing and beautiful thing for Jesus so much so that as Jesus was standing trial, being persecuted, and mocked, being tortured and crucified, the smell of the nard that had soaked His hair and skin would have remained upon His body. Jesus reminds us that giving money to the poor will always be our responsibility according to His will and heart, but nothing is more fragrant than knowing that He chose the cross to give us eternal life.

Reflection:

Today, we are called to worship Jesus like Mary did. There is a time to fast just like there is a time to eat, there is a time to work just like there is a time to rest, there is a time to give to the poor, but today is the occasion of worship for what Jesus has done for us. Worship is not limited to the action of singing, nor should it only take place in the Church; worship is how we honor Jesus with our very lives and our bodies (Romans 12). Like Mary, who had reserved her greatest reverence, greatest love, and greatest affection for Jesus, the greatest expressions of our lives and our greatest expression in life should be to adore and love the one who loved us first. As we view Jesus considering that in just a few days, He will be crucified on the cross, let us adorn Him with the fragrance of our utmost affection and thanksgiving.

Prayer:

1. God, thank you for teaching me about the meaning of Mary’s act of worship before Jesus.

2. Jesus, you are worthy of all my praise and adoration. My greatest devotion is reserved for you.

3. Holy Spirit, help me to live in constant worship of Jesus who has given me everything according to His love for me.

   
   

개요:

예수님의 재판이 있기 일주일 전, 예수님은 베다니에서 나병 환자 시몬의 집에 머무르고 계셨습니다. 성경은 시몬에 대해 그의 칭호 외에는 거의 언급하고 있지 않지만, 예수님께서 그의 병을 고쳐주셨다고 추측할 수 있습니다. 예수님께서 식탁에 기대고 계실 때, 한 여인이 매우 값비싼 향유가 담긴 옥합을 들고 와 예수님께 나아왔습니다. 마가복음 14장, 누가복음 7장, 요한복음 12장에 기록된 유사한 이야기들에 따르면, 이 여인은 나사로와 마르다의 자매 마리아였고, 향유는 값비싼 순전한 나드였으며, 그녀는 이 옥합을 깨뜨려 예수님의 머리에 부었습니다. 그러자 제자들, 특히 가룟 유다를 중심으로 분개하여, 그녀가 그렇게 값진 것을 예수님께 부어 낭비하지 말고 차라리 비싼 값에 팔아 가난한 자들에게 주었어야 한다고 비난했습니다.

그러나 예수님께서는 그녀를 변호하시며 그들에게 말씀하셨습니다:

“가난한 자들은 항상 너희와 함께 있거니와 나는 항상 함께 있지 아니하리라. 이 여자가 내 몸에 이 향유를 부은 것은 내 장례를 준비함이니라 (마태복음 26:11-12).”

제자들은 가난한 자들에 대한 열정이 악의에서 비롯된 것은 아니었지만, 예수님께서 궁극적으로 무엇을 하러 오셨는지를 제대로 이해하지 못했습니다. 예수님께서는 수많은 사람들에게 복음을 전하시고, 병을 고치시고, 먹이셨지만, 그 모든 사역 중에서도 가장 중요한 목적은 바로 자신의 생명을 우리 모두를 위해 내어주시고, 우리의 죄를 위한 희생의 어린양이 되시는 것이었습니다. 이 여인의 행동은 세상 끝날까지 전해질 것이며, 이는 그녀가 예수님의 가장 위대한 순간을 준비했기 때문입니다. 이 순간을 통해 모든 이들이 구원의 선물을 받게 되었습니다.

더 큰 의미:

우리가 귀한 손님을 초대할 때, 정성을 다해 준비하지 않습니까? 그 손님이 정말 존귀한 분이라면, 최고의 음식과 음료, 정성스러운 준비를 합니다. 음식의 재료를 미리 재워두거나, 활동을 준비하거나, 집을 청소하는 등 많은 준비를 하게 됩니다. 예수님의 정체성과 그분이 겪으실 고난을 알아보고 이를 존경과 사랑으로 표현한 유일한 사람은 마리아였습니다.

나드는 1년치 임금에 해당하는 값비싼 향유로, 길고 가느다란 목이 있는 옥합에 담아 보관했습니다. 나드는 향이 매우 강해서, 죽은 사람의 시신에서 나는 악취를 덮기 위해 사용되었고, 사용하려면 옥합을 깨뜨려 그 안의 향유를 모두 쏟아야 했습니다. 이러한 귀중한 향유는 오직 가장 존귀한 손님이나 최고의 순간에만 사용되었으며, 마리아는 기쁨으로 예수님께 부었습니다. 제자들의 말과는 달리, 그녀의 옥합은 낭비가 아닌 너무나도 적절한 헌신이었습니다.

많은 사람들은 귀한 손님에게 어떻게 대접했는지 자랑하지만, 누가 마리아가 예수님께 보여준 사랑과 비교될 수 있겠습니까? 마리아는 예수님께 놀랍고 아름다운 일을 행했습니다. 예수님께서 재판을 받으시고, 조롱당하시고, 고문당하시고, 십자가에 못 박히시는 동안, 마리아가 부은 향유의 향기는 여전히 예수님의 몸에서 풍기고 있었을 것입니다.

예수님께서는 가난한 자들에게 베푸는 일은 항상 우리에게 주어진 사명이라 말씀하시지만, 그 어떤 향기보다 더 향기로운 것은 바로 우리에게 영원한 생명을 주시기 위해 십자가를 선택하신 예수님의 사랑입니다.

묵상:

오늘 우리는 마리아처럼 예수님을 예배하도록 부름 받았습니다. 금식할 때가 있는 것처럼 먹을 때가 있고, 일할 때가 있는 것처럼 쉴 때가 있으며, 가난한 자들에게 줄 때가 있지만, 오늘은 예수님께서 우리를 위해 행하신 일을 기억하며 예배할 때입니다.

예배는 단순히 찬양을 부르는 행위에 국한되지 않으며, 교회 안에서만 드려져야 하는 것도 아닙니다. 예배란 우리의 삶과 몸으로 예수님을 영화롭게 하는 것입니다 (로마서 12장). 마리아가 자신의 최고의 존경과 사랑, 애정을 예수님께 드린 것처럼, 우리의 삶에서 가장 위대한 표현과 가장 큰 사랑 역시 예수님을 향해 드려져야 합니다. 예수님께서 십자가에 못 박히시기 전 그 며칠을 기억하며, 우리의 가장 깊은 감사와 사랑으로 예수님을 예배합시다.

기도:

1. 하나님, 마리아의 예배 행위를 통해 귀한 교훈을 주셔서 감사합니다.

2. 예수님, 당신은 나의 모든 찬양과 경배를 받으시기에 합당하십니다. 나의 최고의 헌신을 당신께 드립니다.

3. 성령님, 모든 것을 주신 예수님을 향해 늘 예배하는 삶을 살도록 도와주소서.