Dancing Before the Lord

"And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, 'Why was this fragrant oil wasted?'" (Mark 14:3,4).

A number of years ago, Carolyn and I visited a little church in a mountain community here in Idaho. During the worship service the pastor's wife begin to dance in the aisle. She was soon joined by others in the congregation. Carolyn and I looked at one another and an unspoken agreement passed between us: "No way!"

Both Carolyn and I come from church traditions that favor a more staid liturgy and this form of worship was way beyond our comfort zone.

But if Mark's story of Mary's "waste" means anything at all it suggests that our love for Jesus can exceed traditional norms and may express itself in ways that others find uncomfortable.

A year’s wages were involved in Mary's anointing. It was an “imprudent” act that invited the disciples’ scorn. (The word Mark uses to describe their reaction, enebrimōnto,means “to snort," and suggests disdain and mockery.) Mary must have cringed, fearing Jesus’ response.

But Jesus commended her for her act of devotion and defended her against his own disciples, for he saw the love that prompted her action, despite what some would consider the impractical nature of it. 

And so, though I may not be able to embrace the forms of worship some churches cherish they may represent a sincere outpouring of love for Jesus. As such I must honor them.

David Roper