Her Act Becomes a Memorial

The scene in which a woman anoints Jesus with expensive perfume, as recorded in John 12:1–8 and Mark 14:3–9, is one of the most striking moments in the Gospels. It is a moment of deep devotion and understanding, yet it is met with misunderstanding and rebuke from those who should have known better. The disciples, having followed Jesus for three years, find themselves caught up in their own perceptions of importance. They scold the woman for what they perceive to be a waste of resources. Yet Jesus, as He so often does, upends their expectations and reveals the true heart of the matter.

This moment echoes another passage in Mark 12:41–44. In the grand temple, a place that was meant to reflect God’s power and presence, wealthy and important men parade around in their finery, making a show of their generosity. The disciples, as part of Jesus’ entourage, observe all of this as if it were the natural order of things. But Jesus is not moved by the grandeur of the temple or by the ostentatious displays of wealth. Instead, He draws His disciples’ attention to a poor widow. She has only two small coins to give, but she offers them freely and with a heart of worship. Jesus declares that she has given more than all the others because she has given all she has.

In both accounts, Jesus challenges the disciples to see beyond outward appearances. He invites them to recognize true devotion, which is not about public recognition or calculated generosity, but about a heart willing to surrender all. The woman who anoints Jesus and the widow who gives her last coins are not trying to impress anyone. They are not seeking a place of honor or a reputation for piety. They are simply responding to the presence of God with everything they have.

The disciples’ reaction to the woman’s anointing of Jesus is telling. They are indignant, believing that the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. At first glance, their argument appears noble. After all, Jesus has consistently taught about the importance of caring for the poor. However, their indignation reveals a misunderstanding of what is happening. They are caught up in the practical and the immediate, missing the deeper spiritual reality. Jesus corrects them, explaining that the woman has done something beautiful. She has anointed Him for His burial, an act of worship and prophetic significance. While they focus on earthly concerns, she perceives the greater truth—that Jesus is soon to die and that this moment is sacred.

This response is not an isolated incident. Time and again, the disciples struggle to grasp the depth of Jesus’ mission. They argue over who will be the greatest in His kingdom, they rebuke those they consider unworthy, and they fail to understand His repeated predictions of His death and resurrection. Their reaction to the anointing woman is another instance of their misplaced priorities. They see waste; Jesus sees worship. They see lost opportunity; Jesus sees eternal significance.

The woman’s act is a demonstration of love and sacrifice. The perfume she pours on Jesus is incredibly valuable, worth a year’s wages. This is not a casual offering. It is an extravagant display of devotion, a willingness to give up something of great worth for the sake of honoring Jesus. She is not calculating the cost; she is not hesitating or considering alternative uses for the perfume. She simply acts out of love, pouring out what she has as an expression of her faith.

In doing so, she embodies what true worship looks like. Worship is not about duty or obligation. It is not about meeting societal expectations or fulfilling religious customs. True worship is about giving ourselves fully to God, holding nothing back. This woman understands that Jesus is worthy of her very best. She is willing to sacrifice something precious because she recognizes His supreme value.

Her act becomes a memorial. Jesus declares that wherever the gospel is preached, her story will be told in memory of her. This is remarkable. She is not one of the disciples. She holds no position of power or influence. Yet Jesus ensures that her devotion will be remembered for all time. This is a profound statement about the nature of God’s kingdom. It is not the rich, the powerful, or the well-positioned who leave the greatest impact in God’s eyes. It is those who worship with their whole hearts, who give without reservation, who love without hesitation.

This memorialization connects her act to the larger biblical theme of remembrance. In Judaism, memorials play a crucial role. God establishes feast days, sacrifices, and physical markers as reminders of His faithfulness. The Passover meal serves as a lasting commemoration of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. The stones from the Jordan River remind future generations of God’s provision. The New Testament continues this theme with baptism and the Lord’s Supper, interactive memorials that call believers to remember Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection.

The anointing of Jesus serves as another form of memorial. It is not a ritual to be repeated, but an act that carries lasting significance. It points to Jesus’ impending death, recognizing Him as the true Passover Lamb. Just as the Israelites were commanded to remember God’s past acts of salvation, the church is called to remember Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. This woman’s act of worship is woven into the very fabric of the gospel story. It is a testimony to what it means to respond rightly to Jesus’ presence.

Her story invites us to reflect on our own response to Jesus. Are we more like the disciples in this moment, focused on the practical and the immediate, missing the deeper spiritual reality? Are we tempted to evaluate acts of worship based on efficiency and usefulness rather than love and devotion? Or are we willing to follow the example of this woman, giving our best to Jesus without reservation?

This passage challenges modern believers to consider what we hold most dear. In a culture that values wealth, status, and recognition, it is easy to fall into the trap of calculating our generosity. We may give, but only when it is convenient. We may worship, but only when it fits within our schedules. The woman who anoints Jesus reminds us that true worship is costly. It requires sacrifice. It demands that we let go of our concerns about appearances and social approval. It calls us to recognize the surpassing worth of Jesus and to respond with hearts that are fully surrendered.

The contrast between the woman and the disciples also serves as a warning. Spiritual proximity to Jesus does not guarantee understanding or right priorities. The disciples had been with Jesus for years. They had seen His miracles, heard His teaching, and walked by His side. Yet they still struggled to grasp the significance of what was happening. This should humble us. It is possible to be involved in religious activity, to be near the things of God, and still miss the heart of worship. The woman in this passage was not part of Jesus’ inner circle, yet she understood something the disciples did not. Her love and devotion led her to an act that Jesus declared would be remembered forever.

The widow’s offering and the anointing woman’s sacrifice both stand as examples of what it means to truly give to God. Neither gift was about the material value. It was about the heart behind the act. The widow’s two small coins were worth more in God’s eyes than the great sums given by the wealthy because she gave out of her poverty. The woman’s perfume was precious, but its real value was in the love with which it was given. These acts were not grand gestures meant to impress others. They were deeply personal expressions of faith.

Jesus’ response to these women shows that He sees beyond what the world values. He is not impressed by wealth, status, or appearances. He is drawn to humble, sacrificial worship. He honors those who give themselves fully to Him, not for recognition but out of love. This is the kind of worship that matters. This is the kind of devotion that leaves an eternal impact.

In a world obsessed with efficiency and productivity, this passage reminds us that some acts of worship will not make sense to others. Some sacrifices will be misunderstood. But what matters is how Jesus sees them. The woman who anointed Jesus was criticized by those around her, but she was commended by Christ. Her story remains a testimony to the beauty of extravagant love for God. May we learn from her example and respond to Jesus with hearts that are fully His.

"Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." Mark 14:9