2024-12-09A
SCRIPTURE
JOHN 12:1-8 (See also Matt 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9)
(Note that a similar incident is also recounted in Luke 7:36-40 but that it probably concerns a different woman.)
1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was (who had died, whom He raised from the dead). 2 Then they made a supper there for Him. And Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those reclining with Him.
3 Then Mary took a pound of ointment of pure spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
4 Then said one of His disciples (Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who was to betray Him) 5 Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor? 6 He said this, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and held the moneybag and carried the things put in.
7 Then Jesus said, Let her alone. She has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For you have the poor with you always; but you do not always have Me.
A. A GREAT STORY.
Another incident from the lives of Martha and Mary. The Lord considered this incident so important that He had it recorded in three of the Gospels. In the Gospel of Matthew, the pericope concludes by also quoting Jesus’ comment on the incident, namely: “Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Matt 26:13).
B. A SPECIAL MEAL.
Once again we find the three family members Martha, Lazarus and Mary together. Once again they are at a banquet in Bethany held in honor of the Lord Jesus, this time in the house of Simon the leper. It was a very significant gathering because just six days later Jesus would be nailed to a cross on Golgotha. This may have been the very last opportunity they would have to do anything special, anything showing their love for Him. Less than a week later He would die a most horrible, shameful death.
C. HEAVENLY INSIGHT.
At that moment, however, the people at the table did not know this, except for one, a woman who had previously sat at His feet and absorbed His words: Mary. She had not only heard what He had taught them from time to time but also understood more of it than did His disciples who had bee with Him day by day. She knew deep within her heart that her beloved Lord and Master would soon be taken from her. In the Spirit she saw Him bleeding, suffering and dying. Therefore, on that day, she brought with her what probably was her most precious possession, an alabaster jar containing a pound of nard ointment, the value of which was equivalent to a labourer’s wages for a full year.
D. FOR SOME, LAZARUS WAS THE FOCAL POINT, BUT FOR MARY … .
The guests, as was the custom at that time, reclined on their sides next to the table on which the food was laid out in dishes. Lazarus, whom the Lord Jesus had raised from the dead shortly before, was present too. Many people had come especially to see him. Perhaps they expexted to see something extraordinary in his appearance; some heavenly glow as was seen on the face of Moses when he had been with God for a while. They might also have tried to strike up a conversation with him, inquisitive to learn something about the hereafter. Martha was, as usual, engaged in serving the guests.
E. MARY USED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING A UNIQUE OFFERING.
Mary may have been busy helping her sister with this for a while, but then she puts down the dishes, goes to kneel by Jesus where He is lying on His side, His head propped up on His hand and elbow. From the folds of her cloak she takes a flask of precious ointment, breaks it open and pours some of it on His head, then on His hands and His garment. The delicious fragrance spreads through the room and the guests fell silent. She moves on her knees, down to His feet. Sadness overcomes her. She breaks out sobbing heartbreakingly, tears coursing down her cheeks for in her spirit she sees His body covered with open wounds from the blows of the Roman soldiers’ whips. On his head is a crown of which the thorns are penetrating His scalp. Blood is dripping from His wounds onto the ground. She hears the sound of the hammers driving nails through His hands, pinning him to a wooden cross. she sees it lifted lifted upright and planted into a hole dug into the soil. After a while She hears Him cry out: “I thirst.” And so, as her tears drips onto His feet, in the space of a few minutes time, she lives through his long hours of suffering, knowing that she would not be able to ease His pain on that imminent day. She had to do it now. This was her last chance. All eyes were on the sobbing woman. She bent over so that her hair hung over His feet and used them to dry her tears. Then she rubbed the remaining ointment into those feet that would be pierced by nails for her sake.
F. A HEARTLESS COMMENT.
Finally she arises. The sweet scent of the nard now fills the room while the broken jar remains lying aside. Suddenly the sacred moments are violated by Judas’ exclamation of indignation: “Why was this waste? The ointment could have been sold for 300 denarii and the money given to the poor!” A number of disciples agreed, half-heartedly.
G. JESUS’ APPRECIATION OF HER ACT OF LOVE.
Then, just as when she was accosted by her sister for not helping her in the kitchen, Jesus himself intervened for her, answering: “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She was performing a very special task. She was anointing My body in advance for My burial, because I will not, like the poor, always be with you. I assure you that wherever the Good News of salvation is preached in the whole world, this good deed she has done for Me will also be told. So she will always be remembered.”
H. A TEACHING WITHOUT WORDS.
What a beautiful story, this wordless message of selfless love.
I. WHAT CAN Í GIVE?
Are we also willing to give our very best to Jesus: a year’s salary, our reputation? Are we willing to do things for Him that will bring Him joy, things that may not be appreciated by all of His disciples; things that only He Himself will understand? The question really is: do I love Him that deeply?”
On that memorable day, the food dishes on the table were certainly special and the fellowship with His other disciples was also precious, but for Jesus, Mary’s gift was the outstanding event that would always remain with Him. Could that precious moment have also flashed through His mind while He was paying the ultimate price on the cross? Could He have thought: “Mary, you broke your precious bottle of nard to bless Me for a few minutes, now I give My body to be broken for you so you can be blessed forever.”
As the fragrance of Mary’s love offering attracted the attention of everyone in that room, may the sweet fragrance of Jesus’ peace offering be spread throughout the entire world.