“A woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table…

“Jesus said… ‘when she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.’” (Matthew 26:7,10, 12-13)

I often think of this mystery woman. In Mark and Luke she is called a sinful woman, in John, a similar story is described about Mary, Lazarus’s sister. In all of the stories, Jesus says that her story will be told. Whether it is one woman or three or four, it doesn’t matter to me, my question is the same:

What had Jesus done that she worshiped him with such abandon?

In all of the stories she walked into a roomful of men – in one book a Pharisee’s home – and sits at Jesus’ feet. Not looking him in the face, not his hands, but his feet.

She cries. She anoints. She washes. She worships.

Why put herself in such a place of humiliation and judgment?

Why go where she did not belong to be near Jesus?

This is where my heart connects with this woman.

Years ago I felt called by God to be a pastor, to go to seminary, to serve in the church.

I have sacrificed connection with family, finances, and yes, even pride, to worship God the best way I know how, in service.

Along the way, I have been surrounded by men who have asked, “What is she doing here?”

I have been told I am selfish.

I have been told I am ungodly.

I have been told I am not equal.

So, I relate to a woman whose worship is not accepted by the people around her.

But her story makes me press on, because Jesus accepts her act of worship. Not only that, He affirms her, accepts her, and rebukes those who reject her.

This is my experience of Jesus as a woman. This is my understanding of God.

Not one who judges women as less than, but One who calls, equips, restores, and redeems what was lost.

I’m excited to keep exploring this theme which I started on Saturday and was blown away on Facebook by the response to my initial post!  Let us be encouraged, friends. Jesus sees and loves us.