Red Carpet Day

The big day approaches and preparations are ongoing.  There is so much to do and so little time.  We want our guests to feel welcomed, adored and honored.  We’ve decided to ‘roll out the red carpet.’  Historically, the use of red carpet was to honor people, to show respect to kings, leaders, and most recently to movie stars and celebrities.  Participation in these events are invitation only and practically impossible to crash, i.e., attend when not uninvited.

A common scene occurred back in 33 AD.  Simon a prominent Pharisee held a dinner party.  And the special guest that day was Jesus.  There was no fanfare with the arrival of Jesus, no red carpet. As he reclined at the table, an uninvited woman appeared beside him.  She crashed the event.  There was no attempt to remove this woman, and she went about her purpose for attending.  Her purpose was not for delicious food, or for the company, nor was it to hear Simon and Jesus discussing great theology.  It seemed that she was there for only one purpose.

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.  Luke 7:36-47

She brought her version of the red carpet.  She came to Simon’s house with perfume, an expensive perfume.  And she came to pour it out on the One she knew was the Christ, “the anointed one.”

I wonder about her thoughts that morning when she learned of the upcoming dinner party.  Maybe she was in the market and heard rumors about great preparations occurring at Simon’s house, about the red carpet being rolled out.  Then perhaps, she heard the whispered name, Jesus.  Maybe she went home and looked around her bare room, her life of little to find something to offer this teacher, Jesus.  She somehow had a jar of expensive perfume, and it was all the value in her life.  Maybe without hesitation, she grabbed it and headed to Simon’s home.

As she approached the dining room, and spotted Jesus she went straight towards him.  And begin what she intended, she anointed him with the perfume and her tears.  While the buzz of conversation surrounded her, her only focus was on the One.  She knew her need, she knew her mess-ups, she knew when she had traded herself for a quick fix and she knew the One before her was her only true Hope.  So, she poured her valuable perfume and wept.  Oh, I wonder what those tears represented.  Was she weeping over her past mistakes or was it the sudden awareness of His complete holiness?   And the perfume, what a lovely aroma must have filled the space, and everyone would have smelled it.  This quiet, significant way of worship impacted everyone nearby.  No red carpet to be trampled on and stained but an aroma that filled the air, permeated the room and invisible but clearly present.

This Mary of Bethany, loved sacrificially, she worshipped without hesitation, and she gave.  And maybe, even after the dinner party the fragrance lingered.  I can smell it today!  The aroma still permeates our days.

I ponder today.  Am I more comfortable in rolling out the red carpet with my service and actions or can I find a time to weep and anoint the One who continues to love and save me? Did Jesus want or need her perfume?  Of course not, but she needed to give Him what she had.  For only in giving what I have, surrendering my perfumes of family, success or of achievement, that I will find the ability to fully accept His love and return His love.

What do I have to give?  What aroma am I leaving behind?