“Six
days before the Passover…a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor…in the home of
Simon the Leper.” John 12:1, Mark 14:3
High school graduation was last Saturday, and since well
over half of the seniors were in my class either this year or last, I spent the
entire ceremony whispering tidbits about each one to my husband. The situations and struggles many of the
students had faced and overcome made their diplomas mean much more than just a
pretty piece of paper. Seeing them walk
across the stage was special because the back story made it a better story.
Such was so in Bethany where “six days before the Passover…a dinner was given in
Jesus’ honor”(Jn 12:1). While Jesus was there, “reclining
at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar
of very expensive perfume. She broke the
jar and poured the perfume on his head”(Mk 14:3).
Mary’s sacrifice gets top billing, and
rightfully so, but the setting of the supper provides backstory that makes the
entire event more meaningful. It seems
we don’t have much to go on—“A dinner was
given in Jesus’ honor in the home of Simon the Leper”—but that little is
enough. We can be sure that the guy who
hosted the party to honor Jesus had good reason to break out the balloons. In other words, at some point during the past
three years, Simon had surely been healed by our Lord.
We’re not told how long Simon had leprosy,
but it was long enough for the disease to become his identity. (Think
about it—no one calls me Starla the Sicko because I once had strep throat for
two weeks.) This horrid malady that
ravaged a person physically, emotionally, and socially had separated Simon from
his family, community, job, and church until Someone came along who had not
only pity but also power. With one
touch, word, or glance—we’re not privy to those details—Jesus restored Simon’s
body and spirit. Suddenly, Simon could do what he never thought possible. He could hug his family, greet his neighbors,
head to work, and walk into worship. So what did Simon do when he was
healed? He opened his home to honor his
Healer.
Simon’s not the only one who should be flinging wide the
door. We’ve been healed from much worse
than a skin disease—we’ve been healed from a sin disease that not only made us
sick but already had us in the grave. “We
were dead in our trespasses and sins…but God, who is rich in mercy, made us
alive in Christ”(Eph 2:1-5). Such
grace invites great celebration—celebration centered on the One who has not
only pity but also power and who chooses to use His strength to save us now and
forever.
Christians have a backstory of rescue and redemption that
makes each moment of our lives have meaning and purpose. All we say and all we do should honor the
Healer of our hearts and lives.
The best backstory is the one that puts Jesus up front.
Let the praise party begin—and never end!
