Matthew 26:13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.

I think every believer would love an opportunity to sit down and converse with Jesus about the day to day happenings in his/her life. We talk to the Lord now of course through prayer and the Holy Spirit communes with us to encourage and sustain us. But wouldn’t you like to pose a question about the liberation of women, for instance, and get a direct and immediate answer? Wouldn’t that be something!

Yet when we want to know God’s heart on a particular subject, it is possible to search the Scriptures to find an answer. In Matthew 26 we read that Jesus reminded his disciples that the Passover was only two days away and that his crucifixion was imminent. On his way to the Passover, while in Bethany, he encountered a woman. This woman did not seek to pose any questions to Jesus, however. She simply broke open an alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ head while he was sitting at the table in Simon’s house.

In righteous indignation, the disciples questioned: “Why this waste? This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Seriously! My response to this would have been: whose perfume is it?

Jesus’ reaction is precious: “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Matthew 6: 10–13).  This woman brought Jesus a love gift. She esteemed him worthy of her best effort. She did not ask anyone’s approval but simply followed her heart. And Jesus defended her and approved of her actions. To my mind, she was as liberated as anyone can get. Doesn’t the Lord’s approval transcend all others?