When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,  “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,  and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.” 

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,  a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.  “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.  The poor you will always have with you,[a] but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

A question often asked in Christian circles, especially by a new believer, is “What is God’s plan for my life?” It’s a worthy question that deserves an answer which requires a lot of studying scripture, praying, and discernment. Too often, we believers want to know the “whole” plan, down to every last detail. This week, during one of my readings for the day, I took in Matthew 26: 1-16 and reflected on observing  how “a plan within a plan” was woven into the story.

First, Jesus is telling those gathered in a small home that soon He will be handed over to be crucified. In what I assume to be another small gathering some distance away, are the chief priests who are meeting in the palace of the chief priest. We meet two very different people in these 16 verses, a woman who has an expensive jar of perfume to pour out on Jesus and Judas, a devoted disciple who leaves the small home, enters the palace to inquire how he might benefit from knowing the whereabouts of Jesus. Both, desiring a particular outcome, knew exactly where to be in the moment.

In the course of these events, God’s plan of salvation, which is the most important of all, uses a woman and her perfume to illustrate deep love for her savior, which I have to believe she had no idea what was to come very soon with His arrest, torture, and death on a Roman cross. Did Judas wake up that morning and suddenly decide “I think I’ll betray my beloved Jesus today”. From the humble worship from a poor woman to a loyal disciple God’s plan continued to fall into place.

I think what we can learn from reading this portion of the crucifixion story is that no matter our status in life, regardless of an economic level, how faithful and godly our life may be, if God wants something accomplished He will complete it. Right down to using very faithful people along with those whose intentions may not appear to be good or righteous. 

As I meditated on these verses I noted the contrast of  the two meeting places–a small home and a large palace. In the small home with Jesus are His disciples and most likely the owners of the house–his hosts. This woman–who is not named–is present. In another gathering place–a palace–are the chief priests. They are scheming and plotting against Jesus while He’s telling his friends what is to come. I picture Him speaking from a heavy heart, but with a tone of assurance and love. Off in the distance, angry voices are raised against “this one” who has disrupted Jewish traditions and beliefs. In the midst of all the clamor, the beauty of quiet worship from a humble poor woman illustrates the kind of love response that Jesus was desiring from all He met during His three years of ministry.

Insert yourself into the story. Who do you identify with? Are you or have you been part of an angry mentality towards God and His plan for your life? It might be time to leave those thoughts and seek solitude in the quietness of your home. Perhaps you can imagine finding rest as you recline, leaning in to hear Jesus’ voice as He speaks to you, telling you what’s to come. That’s what was taking place in the home owned by Simon the Leper, yet the presence of deceits lingers in the air. We see rest, listening, worship and betrayal. God is working, He is moving. He’s accomplishing what is to come, a plan of salvation that had multiple twists and turns and miraculous events. They all lead to the final destination–redemption through Christ on a cross.

Your life is full of unexplained turns and circumstances, too. You have a choices, too. Follow Jesus and worship Him regardless of what’s to come even within the promise of eternal life, or reject Him and endure a different outcome, eternal separation from God. 

My prayer is that you won’t allow unexplained hardships towards God or not knowing His plan for your life to keep you from being in relationship with Him. Learn what we can from the people who are described  in these 16 verses. Like a poor woman who displayed deep love with an outpouring of a precious perfume as an act of humble worship, may we search our hearts and respond accordingly to His unimaginable love for us.