The Savior Anointed

In Mark 14:3-9 and Matthew 26: 6-13 there is a woman, who anoints the Savior with very expensive oil. She is originally judged harshly by those witnessing. They claimed that the oil was wasted, and that she could have sold it for lots of money and then distributed it to the poor as good works. The savior, however, rebukes them. This woman, it would seems, may have had a greater understanding of what the savior would be going through soon than the rest of them that were present. For it seems that she knew that Christ would no longer be with them and the Savior says “She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying” (Mark 14:8)

The savior praised this woman, claiming that she had “wrought a good work” and that her deed’s would “be spoken of for a memorial of her” (Mark 14:6,9)

So what did this woman do that make her act so great that she was praised by the savior and makes her worthy of our remembrance? I’d like to think that the woman was so in tune with the spirit and probably very well read in the scriptures that she was aware of what was going to happen to the Savior. She knew that he would no longer be with them and she was reverencing him. He was worth more to her than the money the oil could have brought. To me she symbolizing putting Christ first and remembering what he did for us. She was willing to give up the precious materials in her life and give them to the savior. She was respectful and knew that the work he would do would be for all mankind.

What I take from this woman is that I need to remember to put Christ first. I need to follow the gospel before I worry about the other things in my life.  This woman also reminds me of the sacrament and how we should reverence it and remember why we take it. We should always be grateful to our Heavenly Father and to Jesus Christ, who made it possible that we could even return to their presence.