"There came a woman with an alabaster jar of perfume"

Mark 14:3-5
And while He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster jar of perfume of very costly pure nard; and she broke the jar and poured it over His head. But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they were scolding her.

Simon was no longer a leper.
Otherwise, he would not have been hosting a feast in honor of Jesus.

 
He may have been the leper Jesus healed earlier in His ministry (Mark 1:40). Or he could have been another fortunate soul whose life’s curse of being isolated by this contagious disease was ended by the merciful touch of the Savior. Now, this man who formerly was touched by leprosy, who was touched by Jesus’ healing power, likely greeted Jesus with an embrace and welcomed Him to a feast in His honor. The Rabbi’s fame and recognition was on the rise among the people. Increasingly He was being acclaimed as the Messiah.  

It was common for the host of a feast to provide fresh water scented with a few drops of expensive perfume to wash the dust of the road off the head, face, and feet of their guests. But this woman went to the extreme, broke the small white jar and poured its entire contents on Jesus’ head and hair. (The broken jar could not be reused; its contents were committed to the purpose.)

 
The unnamed woman perhaps unknowingly saw a different future for the Master as she anointed His head with the spikenard oil.

 
Mark has spent the first half of his gospel explaining how Jesus established His authority over unclean spirits, sickness, weather, wind and waves. He taught with authority. He debated and defeated the religious leaders (chapters 1-8). Peter recognized Him as Messiah (8:29), and Jesus was transfigured and appeared in glory before Peter, James and John on the mountain (9:2).

 
But despite Jesus having told His disciples at least three times that betrayal, suffering and death was what awaited Him in Jerusalem, they didn’t understand Him (Mark 8:31–35, Mark 9:30–32, Mark 10:33-34).

 
The woman in Simon’s house seems to have understood what others missed.
As she lovingly anointed Jesus, she was acknowledging Him as Messiah (Christ, christos, "anointed One"). 

As we begin Lent together, we can allow this woman's example to lead us to focus on Jesus: who He is, what He said, and what He has done for us.

And how our lives should reflect His light, even in the gathering darkness.