HOST: Ron House
SPONSOR: Start2Finish
It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.
Most commentators believe that this text refers to the same events as John 12:1-8, with Mary, the sister of Lazarus, being the unnamed woman who anointed Jesus’ head (Mark) and feet (John) with a costly oil. This she did to honor Him and, as Jesus says, to symbolically prepare His body beforehand for burial. One of the highlights of this passage is the storm that is brewing around Jesus regarding His enemies. There are the chief priests and scribes who have firmly decided to “take Him by trickery and put Him to death” and are looking for the right opportunity. There are those who were indignant and very critical of such an extravagant act of honor being bestowed upon Jesus by Mary. And then there was Judas, the apostle of Jesus, whose love for money had taken precedence over His love for Jesus. This “wasteful” act of anointing Jesus’ body was more than Judas could stand. He joined the ranks of Jesus’ enemies and would look for the perfect opportunity to betray Him. The stage had been set, and it was only a matter of time.
What was the significance of Mary anointing Jesus?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
