What comes to mind when you think about loyalty? For me, great friendships and important relationships are marked by loyalty. I’m a gold star member at Starbucks; quite loyal to my love of coffee. As we walk with Jesus, now on the verge of his betrayal and trial, Matthew juxtaposes stories of betrayal with those of pure devotion and loyalty, but not at all in the way we’d imagine or how it should be.
It is one of Jesus’ closest friends and disciples, Judas, who agrees to betray Jesus for money. It’s the teachers of religious law who don’t like what their colleague is teaching. The people who should’ve understood Jesus’ mission and message are his ultimate downfall.
It is an unnamed woman who gives something priceless to Jesus. (If you read that quickly, let me emphasize unnamed and woman—not at all part of the in-crowd.) Her act of loyalty and love helps prepare Jesus for what’s about to come. No amount of money or expensive perfume was going to keep her from honoring Jesus. It’s a stark contrast to religious teachers and Judas; it’s the world-flipping nature of the Kingdom.
Jesus tells his disciples that the unnamed woman will be remembered and discussed (v. 26:13). She’s unnamed! The irony is laughable. How are we supposed to remember someone whose name we didn’t even know? Her loyalty and love are all that one needs to know about her. It speaks to her heart for Jesus, her devotion, and her care for him in his greatest hours of need.
Where does your loyalty lie? Do you care that your name is attached to your good deeds? The Kingdom is starkly different from the world. It seems that those who should’ve understood missed the point. Church, we’re the people who should get it … so let us not miss the point! May we never sacrifice our identity as Christ-followers for money, status, or comfort. Instead, let us reflect the loyalty, service, care, and love of the unnamed woman.
Reflection:
- All four Gospels write about the woman who anoints Jesus. (Luke tells a very different version; whether it’s the same woman or not is undetermined.) What can you learn from her posture and her act of service for Jesus? How might you apply it to your life?
- A quick prayer of reflection: Lord, we confess that worldly things often get in the way of a clear view of who you are. Would you remove any gunk in our hearts, minds, eyes, or ears that prevents us from loving you wholly? May you create in us a desire to love and serve you without hesitation—and that everything might flow from that. Amen.