Chapter 14
A couple of
weeks later, I visited my mother in Bethany. It was hard for me to get away
from my job, but I needed to make sure she was all right. I missed my father,
and I knew that she did too. It was great to see her again.
My mother
told me that Jesus was in town.
“Really?!” I
said. “Is he staying with Lazarus and his sisters?”
“Of course,”
my mother responded. She went on, “Jesus will be at a banquet tonight at the
home of Simon, the Leper. I’m sure he would be glad to set another plate for
you. You remember Simon, don’t you?”
I was
confused. I answered, “I remember him well, but as I recall, he was diagnosed with
leprosy and had to leave home.”
Leprosy was a
terrible disease. It was incurable and highly contagious. When someone
contracted leprosy, they had to leave their home and live outside of town in
isolation. Loved ones would bring them food and clothing, but had to keep their
distance. Those with leprosy first develop scabs on the skin. Then they lost
feeling in their fingers and toes. The fingers and toes would begin to rot and
ooze fluids. Lepers had to wrap their fingers and toes to keep them intact. Soon
the disease attacked their insides and the leper would die. A terrible disease.
My mother interrupted my thoughts.
“Oh, he did
leave home.” my mother said. She went on, “He was isolated from his family for
several years.”
Now I
interrupted, “But I have never heard of anyone recovering from leprosy!”
My mother
smiled and said, “No one. That is until Jesus came into town. Jesus met Simon
and another leper outside of town and healed them! Then he told them to go and
show themselves to the priest. Of course, the priest had to investigate in
order to pronounce them clean so they could return home.” Mother chuckled and
said, “I wish I could have been there to see the look on the face of the priest
who had to say that Jesus had healed Simon of his leprosy!”
“Wow!” I
exclaimed. “Simon is healed of his leprosy! I just couldn’t believe it.”
“Oh, you can
believe it!” my mother remarked. “And every time they see him, the priests are
mad. They are mad at Simon and they are really mad at Lazarus.”
I thought, “Oh,
yeah, Lazarus. If Simon is an embarrassment to the priests, I’ll bet they really
hate Lazarus.”
I stopped by
to see Simon that afternoon and was invited to the banquet. I’m not saying that
I went by to see him just to get an invitation to the banquet, but I did get an
invitation just the same.
That
afternoon, I was excited to see Jesus once again. As I sat at the table, I was
amazed at Simon, a former leper, at Lazarus, who was dead, and at Jesus, who
had caused both miracles. Just to think of his power over disease and death!
What a wonderful man!
Then, halfway
through the banquet, Mary came in uninvited. She went to Jesus, just weeping
and weeping. She knelt down at the feet of Jesus. Her tears rolled down her
cheeks and dripped off her chin and wet his feet. She wiped her tears off his
feet with her long hair. And then she produced an alabaster box and broke it
open. The sweet perfume spilled out all over Jesus’ feet and the aroma filled
the room. Mary massaged Jesus’ feet, rubbing in the costly ointment. No one in
the room could believe what they were seeing. One of his disciples mumbled that
it was such a waste of expensive ointment. The alabaster box should have been
sold and the money given to feed the poor. Simon was obviously displeased. But
Jesus was displeased with all of them. He took Mary by the hand and raised her
up.
“Simon,”
Jesus began, looking at his host, “When I came in to your house this afternoon,
you didn’t offer to wash off the dust from my feet. But this dear woman has
washed my feet with her tears and wiped them dry with her hair. And Judas,”
Jesus said, turning to the criticizing disciple, “You think this should have
been sold to feed the poor. There will always be poor people in the world. But
I will not be here always.”
Jesus looked
at Mary again and said, “In the future, whenever people read of this event,
they will remember your act of kindness, sacrifice, and devotion to me. You
have done this in preparation for my burial.”
Mary hugged
Jesus fervently and was gone. Jesus stood and followed her out. The banquet was
over. Simon made small talk and tried to lessen his embarrassment. But Jesus
was right. Simon should have been kinder. Judas should have been more
thoughtful. And we all should have learned from Mary. I know that I did.
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