A Tale of Two Perfumes Pastor DeWitt It was a warm day and the heavy scent of fruit, vegetables, charcoal fires cooking, hot people, and sweaty donkeys hung above the market-place like an invisible advertisement of their wares. The sounds of venders calling out to passers-by were barely audible above the hubbub of dickering, the din of the metalsmiths, and the sounds of the carpenters. In fact, if you were to walk into the bazaar, your senses would be assaulted on every account, but this is their way or life, and to them any other kind of a market would be strange You would probably not have noticed the slender, worn looking woman as she threads her way through the crowd. She is not carrying her basket, so perhaps she has an errand besides the buying of groceries. She hurries past the flat oven where sheets of bread are cooked on stones heated red hot. She doesn't even seem to notice as the silk merchant calls out for her to stop and look at his wares. So intent is she upon her mission that the clanging of the coppersmiths hammers beating out their staccato rhythm never enters into consciousness. "Just past the leather goods stall," she mumbles to herself, "And then down the alley and on the left. Yes, here he is." As she enters the shop, which in most cases merely means stepping to the side of the street; she looks around quickly at the wares the merchant has to offer, for she has been told that this man is the one to go to if one wants the best in perfume. The Merchant, being one who prides himself on judging the exact farthing that he could extract from his customers approaches. "Shalom, Can I do anything for the lady today?" he says, while moving mentally to a cheap brand of odor which has, been popular lately with the less wealthy, -- and the less respectable. "Yes," she' replies quietly, "I have need of some perfume." "Oh madam, I have just what all the ladies are buying now." He opens a pottery jar and waves the perfume under her nose. "This is an excellent sweet perfume, which I have blended just for the lovely ladies of Jerusalem. It contains fragrances from many lands, and it is only a humble five dollars." "No, I want something better, Something, well maybe ......" "Ah yes, yes, I have just what you are bolting for." He interrupts, mentally, chiding himself for miscalculating. "If you keep this up you son of Abraham, you'll soon be out of business." Reassessing, he chooses another bottle of perfume from his shelf and offers it to her. "This is a mixture of aloes and spices from Arabia. It only arrived yesterday on the caravan of my brother Caleb, who searches the East for treasures. Surely this will please the lady who truly has exquisite taste." How much is it?" asks the woman looking at the small jar. "Madam, This has to come from Arabia. For many months the people labor there to gather and blend this fragrance. Then it must travel the hot desert and risk being stolen by thieves. However for a discerning lady like yourself I can offer this treasure to you for a mere $50." "No" comes the reply, much to the merchants expectations. "No, It isn't good enough. I need something better. What is the best that you have here in the shop?" The merchant is beginning to wonder what is happening. Is this a setup? He wipes his brow. He wonders if he is to be made the laughing stock of Jerusalem. This is indeed turning into an extraordinary day. "Madam, please wait here. I have another, but I must warn you that it is expensive" "May I see it?'" He hurries into the back of the shop and moves the carpet from the chest which he used as a stool. He opens it and withdraws an exquisite box. "This is the best in the shop. It is truly a fragrance of princes and princesses. Ships sail to the land or Cush where this precious fragrance is found. And to add to the aroma, it is stored in this delicately carved wooden flask, made from wood of the cedars of Lebanon. Truly, this is the best in my shop And the lady has royal taste." "How much is it?" "Madam, this perfume arrived from a great distance. After the ships brought it to our shore, it had to travel by camel caravan, and I paid much money for it. But for you Madam, I can sacrifice it for a mere $5000, A small sum indeed considering the great value." She hesitates a minute, as if calculating. The merchant holds his breath. This sale would indeed make this a good day. Shockingly she says, "This is not good enough. It must be the best. Is this the best that you have? Tell me truly." The merchant glances nervously around. Is this woman serious? Surely she had seen much mote than she could afford. Seeing no one suspicious hanging around, he feels a little better, and the desire for gain outweighing his caution he leans over and whispers to the lady, "I have one more item you might be interested in. Come into the back of my shop." Entering the little room that served also as the front room of the home, the merchant goes over to a locked chest draws a key from his belt, and slowly opens it. The case is lined with find silk from the orient. And cradled in the silk...... The merchant reaches down and draws out a perfect alabaster Lion. "This in truly the best that I have. This is spikenard, a fragrance for kings and queens. The finest artists in the land of Egypt have made this alabaster vessel for this most noble of all fragrances. As the lion is the king of beasts, surely this is the royalty of all fragrances. It is made from the roots and stems of a plant which grows high in the mountains North of India. The fragrance is crushed from the plant and placed in the costly alabaster jars, which are carved just for this purpose. Then it is transported by ass down the dangerous mountain paths, across the deserts of Persia by camel train, the merchants or Damascus where I journeyed to purchase it. Yes, it is the best that I have, for no one can have any better." "This is the best that there is."" "Truly." "Then this is what I want," says Mary, "Nothing is too good for Him." "How much is it?" "Madam, it is surely beyond your abilities, for this precious ointment costs $20,000." The merchant holds his breath as Mary reaches into her robe and takes out a bag. As she counts out the money, the eyes of the merchant begin to bulge. As she counts it out, he recounts it, 15,000 16000, 17000, 18000, 19000, 20000. "Madam, may I ask one question? What is the fragrance for?" "It is for the one who forgave my sins." What could be worth that much? To give us an idea, lets turn to the story of another perfume. This is a different type of perfume known as balm. Known for its healing properties. And in the section of Palestine known as Gilead, this was made. Today I would like to use it symbolically as did Jeremiah, other Old Testament writers, and Ellen White. One day the Master was in the temple courtyard teaching and speaking to the crowds which followed him everywhere that he went. Suddenly as he is teaching, he is interrupted by a group of respectable looking men who are shouting anathamas at a captive figure. And as you look closer you notice that you recognize her, for she is, the one who purchased the perfume in the alabaster box. Straight across the courtyard she is dragged, and then cruelly shoved out in front of the mob, before the master. "O teacher, we caught this woman in the very act of adultery. The law demands that she be stoned until dead. What should we do with her?" Pausing a second, the master looks at the crowd of men. He well knows the law, for he had given it. He knows that both parties involved are supposed to be stoned, but he sees only one. Quietly he replies, "The one of you who does not sin, you be the one to cast the first stone." With that remark, he squats down and begins to write in the dust. Curious, they all crowd around to see what is happening. The woman, chilled with horror, knows that she is doomed, for are not most of these righteous men? With down cast eyes she waits for the first painful thud of stone against flesh. Each noise causes her to flinch. Hearing footsteps, she assumes that they are searching for stones. She dares a glance up and sees that one by one the little knot of men is disbanding. First goes Simon. He was the to get her started in this, then one by one the rest of the men leave. Soon she is alone in front of the, teacher, feeling more naked than she ever had in her whole life. It was as if he could see through her, even read her thoughts. "Mary, where' are your accusers?" "Master, I see no one." Then, in a tender voice, full of love and compassion, Jesus tells Mary, "I do not condemn you. Go and sin no more." The balm of Gilead, began its healing restoring work on Mary then and there. She was accepted by the one who knew her better than any simply human being ever could. It would be a beautiful story even if it ended there. But it didn't. Six more times it was necessary for Christ to forgive Mary of her sin. Sir times more, before the devils were driven out of her tortured body. But finally the Balm of Gilead, That healing balm of loving forgiveness and acceptance, which is available to us still today, accomplished its purpose. And that healing was infinitely more important to Mary than all the alabaster boxes in the world, with all the Spikenard in the world in them. And no doubt as, Mary, hurries home with her precious parcel, she is replaying some scenes in her mind. And she wonders. Jesus has been talking of his death lately. How could it be? The people loved him. They thronged to hear him speak, to have him bless their children and heal their sick. She was in a dilemma. Should she save the box and see if he were killed? or...or... Then she remembered. The master and his disciples were at the house of Simon, father of Judas, having a feast today. She would do it now. She couldn't wait. Hurrying across town, she finds Simon's house. She used the back door as perhaps she had before, and moves quietly into the house. The dining room is full of the chatter and hubbub of the feast. Quietly, trying not to be noticed, she moves to the place where Jesus sits. Opening her bottle, she pours the costly fragrance over her Lord, beginning with his head and moving to his feet. Then with her long hair, she begins to spread the perfume around on his feet, sobbing with joy and thankfulness. One by one the guests become silent. Mary had forgotten that you don't open spikenard in a room without everyone knowing. Quickly, the unmistakable odor fills the room. "Spikenard," one guest after another whispers under his breath. Another says, "That's the most valuable perfume that is available. I wonder where it comes from." But soon it was obvious, for Judas, being more conscious of the monetary value of things, blurts out to Jesus. "She should have sold that given money to the poor. This, that stuff cost almost a years wages." Here and there heads wag in agreement with the son of Simon. "Not so," says Jesus. "Leave her alone, don't bother her. She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them any time that you want to. But I will not always be here. This woman has done what she could. She has anointed body before my burial. And it is true that whenever the gospel is preaches in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her." Jesus then tells a parable, Turn with me if you will to Luke 7:4l. .....Thy faith hath saved you, go in peace. Luke 8:1,2 Mary followed Jesus. So once again the story is told. But not finished. For when Christ arose from the dead, it was this forgiven Mary who was the first one to see him. The one who carried the news of his resurrection to the disciples where they were hiding. was this same forgiven Mary. Two perfumes. one story. The healing, forgiveness and acceptance of the savior on the one hand, and the unselfish total adoration of the forgiven on the other. No, the story is not over. For I expect that when we are caught up in the clouds of heaven and walk those streets of gold until we find the great throne room, that next to the Lord of the universe will be standing one person who has eyes only for her Redeemer. And that person will be Mary, the adulterer. I want to be there, I want to see her as she looks again into the face of her Savior, this time casting down her crown at his feet. And I want to see her when the Lord of the Universe reaches down and picks up the crown, I want to see him place it on her head. I want to hear the savior say again, "You have done what could do. Your faith has saved you. Stay here in peace." I want to be there. I hope you do to. And you will be if in recognition of the great mercy that has been given you, you tell your Savior, "All I have , all I am is yours because you have redeemed me." No, the story will never be over, for it is just a beginning of a story without an end. The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come," and let him that heareth say, "Come," and let him that is athirst say, "Come." And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. He who testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus.