Anointed for Burial
TRANSLATION
(1) It was now two days before the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were plotting how to arrest him secretly and kill him, (2) for, they said, “Not during the feast or the people may riot.”
(3) While he was at Bethany reclining at a meal in the house of Simon the leper, a woman with an alabaster jar containing very expensive perfume made of pure nard came, broke the jar, and poured it over his head. (4) There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was this perfume wasted like that? (5) It might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they rebuked her sharply. (6) But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you troubling her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. (7) The poor you have with you always, and you can help them anytime you want. But you will not always have me. (8) She did what she could. She has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. (9) And truly, I tell you, wherever the gospel will be preached throughout the whole world, what this woman has done will be told in memory of her.”
(10) Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests (offering) to betray (Jesus) to them. (11) And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he looked for an opportunity to betray him to them.
OBSERVATIONS
Mark’s time reference (vs. 1) served to notify his readers that Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion were only a few hours away. Repeated words in this segment included “feast” (vss. 1 & 2), “jar” (vs. 3), “perfume” (vss. 3 & 4), “poor” (vss. 5 & 7), and “betray” (vss. 10 & 11). Knowing that one denarius was the normal wage for a day’s labor helps us establish the high value of the jar of nard (spikenard) poured over Jesus’ head. In John’s Gospel we learn that it was Mary, the sister of Lazarus, who anointed Jesus’ feet with this costly perfume (Jn. 12:3).
OUTLINE
I. Simon the Leper hosted a meal just before Jesus’ crucifixion. (1 & 2)
II. Jesus defended the woman who anointed him with expensive perfume. (3-9)
III. Judas departed to make arrangements with the chief priests for betraying Jesus. (10 & 11)
IDEA STATEMENT
Our devotion to Jesus should take precedence over all other commitments.
APPLICATION
Mary was the one disciple who always seemed to know just how to please the Lord with her attitudes and actions. When Jesus had earlier visited Martha’s home, Mary’s sister had preoccupied herself with all the preparations for a big dinner while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to him attentively. When Martha complained about Mary’s failure to help her, Jesus defended her: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Lk. 10:41 & 42).
On this occasion, at another dinner, Mary caused great consternation among the guests at Simon’s house by pouring an entire jar of costly perfume over Jesus. Mark noted how she poured it over his head while John emphasized her anointing his feet and then using her hair to remove the excess (Jn. 12:3). Apparently her action involved his whole body from head to toe. Both accounts included Jesus’ defense of her actions against those who protested that the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor rather than wasted on such a lavish demonstration of love.
In view of Mary’s selfless devotion, each of us should ask, “Have I ever done anything in my love for Jesus that could have been criticized because it was too lavish, too excessive, too wasteful? Or am I so practical, so calculating, so stingy, that I would never extend myself to express my love in such an extravagant manner?” Jesus welcomed and commended Mary’s “extreme” devotion. Perhaps all of us need to consider what more we might do to show how much Jesus means to us.