Camping on "Pouring Out": Another Lesson in Grace and Mercy

Ok - So, I've been doing a little camping on "pouring out". There are accounts of Jesus being annointed with oil by a woman in each of the gospels. However, I'm confused with the different accounts, whether or not they were accounts of different events.... 1) Matthew, 26, Mark 14, John 12 and 2) Luke 7. Even though the John 12 passage has the woman pouring the perfume on Jesus' feet instead of head (like Matthew 26 and Mark 14 do).

Matthew 26
Jesus in Bethany, about two days away from Passover, staying with Simon the Leper. As Jesus was reclining at the table, a woman comes with an alabaster jar of perfume and pours it on Jesus head. The disciples were angry for the waste - money could have been given to the poor.

Mark 14
Jesus in Bethany at Passover time (two days away) staying with Simon the Leper. As Jesus was reclining at the table, a woman comes with an alabaster jar of perfume and pours it on Jesus head. Some were angry for the waste - money could have been given to the poor.

Luke 7
Jesus at the house of a Pharisee (no location referenced). As Jesus was reclining at the table, a "sinful" woman comes with an alabaster jar of perfume and pours it on Jesus feet. The Pharisees were upset because Jesus should have known a sinful woman was touching Him.

John 12
Jesus in Bethany (no house referenced) at Passover time (about six days away). As Jesus was reclining at the table, Mary took a jar of expensive perfurme and poured it on Jesus' feet. Judas was angry for the waste - money could have been given to the poor.

In researching a little and talking with friends, this is what I have so far:

• anointing on one's head was a religious ritual with significance to the Jews and anointing on one's feet had to do with cleaning... perhaps for His impending burial (as mentioned in Matthew, Mark, and John)
• anointing on the head was a sign by God singling out someone whom He had chosen for a specific purpose
• think about who authored the gospels and who they were written to... perhaps that is why the different emphasis - Matthew to the Jews, Mark for the Romans, Luke for other pagan Gentiles (Greeks, etc.), John for Christians

On the flipside, here are some similarities:

• Jesus was reclining at the table (at rest)
• the woman completely poured out an extravagant and expensive gift (of love) - not out of necessity or obedience, but out passion and desire
• she was criticized by someone for it
• she was defended by Jesus

The thing I was left with was how the passage in Luke was so dramatically different than the others. In the others, Jesus just defended her by saying it was intended for his burial. Luke was the only account which had a parable enveloped in the story. Jesus talked about the parable of the moneylender - and him cancelling the debt of both a borrower of a small amount and one of a larger amount (10 times more) - yet both could not pay the moneylender back. It was decided the one with the larger amount owed would love more as a result of the debt being cancelled. He ended the parable with this truth:

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Luke 7:47-50

I think she was motivated to her actions ("for she loved much") because she knew the heighth, width, depth, and breadth of Jesus' mercy. And out of that overflow (not just perfume, but tears and kisses), she experienced Jesus' grace ("your sins are forgiven"). Her act demonstrated her faith and Jesus responded in the only way He could - in a good way. Her faith had saved her.

It's ironic. Because she loved much (grace), her sins had been forgiven (mercy). Yet because her sins had been forgiven (mercy), she went in peace (grace).

All for now,
Lisa