Holy Wednesday
Beauty and the Beast
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, {in the home of a man known as Simon the LeperMT; MK}, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
This event actually took place about five days earlier. Chronologically it fits between the time Jesus arrived in Bethany and the Triumphal Entry (see § 128a). Matthew and Mark place it topically here, to show the ignorance of the apostles. John adds Iscariot to the mix, highlighting his greed. Thus, one of the only clear motives we are given for Judas’ betrayal is his lust for petty cash. But this event also shows how ignorant the Eleven were of Judas’ true character. Because he held the purse strings, they fell in behind him in his condemnation of Mary’s act of devotion.
Even if this banquet is held on Saturday, Jesus almost certainly arrives in Bethany on Friday since it is doubtful that he traveled any great distance on the Sabbath. Although the “Sabbath Journey” of three-fifths of a mile was set by Oral Tradition, Jesus still honors the Scripture through Sabbath rest. Therefore we reckon the six days of John 12:1 by Roman “exclusive” counting and assume Jesus & Co. arrive in Bethany on Friday. That does not necessitate, however, that the banquet is held on the day of his arrival. It could be held on Friday, with all the preparations being completed before the Sabbath began. Or it could be held on Saturday after the Sabbath ended at sunset.
Aside from this banquet, we also read of the Jews from Jerusalem who discover Jesus’ whereabouts and come to see both him and Lazarus (Jn 12:9). When does this take place? Well, we know that the Triumphal Entry, which almost certainly took place on a Sunday, is the next day (Jn 12:12). Therefore we can reconstruct the events this way: Jesus arrives in Bethany on Friday. When Jesus is welcomed into the private home of Simon the Leper, the crowds have no reason to stay in Bethany. They continue their trek to the city of Jerusalem, just two miles over the Mt. of Olives. News of Jesus’ whereabouts arrives too late for the Jerusalemites to make it back to Bethany before the Sabbath begins so they wait until Saturday night to go. Then on Sunday they join Jesus’ entourage at the Triumphal Entry. Meanwhile, this banquet takes place either on Friday or Saturday night.
Apparently at least two families join together to honor Jesus: Lazarus’ and Simon’s. It is theoretically possible that “Simon” is another name for Lazarus. But that is unlikely if our assumption is correct that Lazarus is a prominent man among the Jews of Jerusalem (Jn 11:45–47). Even if he were healed, it is doubtful that a leper could gain such status. There is also speculation that he is Martha’s husband, or perhaps her father, since she serves at the banquet. However, it would not be at all uncommon for a woman to serve a meal in a home that was not her own. What seems more likely is that Lazarus and Simon, both of whom have been healed by Jesus, join together in honoring him with a special meal.
3 Then Mary took {an alabaster jar ofMK} about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume[.] {She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his headMK} {as he was reclining at the table.MT} [S]he poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
We must remember that this is not the first time this family has fixed a meal for Jesus and his band (cf. Lk 10:38–42, § 104). Mary honored Jesus the first time by sitting at his feet and listening like a good student. This time she will honor him with an expensive and impetuous gift. This alabaster flask likely hung around her neck. It was made of a translucent stone which had been reamed out for its costly contents and then sealed back up. In order to pour out the ointment one would break the neck of the flask.
Inside was a full pint of pure nard, literally “myrrh.” Hendriksen (p. 175) says that this particular ointment was “an aromatic herb grown in the high pasture-land of the Himalayas, between Tibet and India.” It represented a year’s wages, about three hundred denarii. Perfumes were especially important in a culture where water (hence baths) was scarce. But a whole pint of perfume is a bit excessive. She has so much, in fact, that she starts at his head (Mt and Mk) and pours clear down to his feet (Jn). No one needed a whole pint of perfume! Unless, of course, they were dead. It was common to anoint dead bodies heavily and then put other spices and perfumes in the folds of the burial cloth to overpower the stench of decomposition. This lavish act is only reasonable in light of Jesus’ impending death.
Her lavish worship of Jesus is improper according to human standards. It is wasteful. It could have been used for more practical purposes. Furthermore, she lets down her hair in public, a cultural impropriety in and of itself, and then proceeds to humiliate herself by wiping Jesus’ feet with her hair! Hence, the disciples protest.
4 But one of his disciples {the disciples,MT} Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected {some of those present were saying indignantly to one another,MK}
5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” {And they rebuked her harshly.MK}
6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. {It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.JN}
7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.
8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
The disciples, led by Iscariot, begin to object to Mary’s act and berate her for it. Judas is motivated by greed. Since he has pilfered from the money bag, he sees here a wasted opportunity. The others, however, have pure motives, misguided as they were. They think they represent Jesus’ heart in this matter since he has so often shown interest in the poor. But Jesus once again adds a surprising twist to the story. Just as Jesus had berated Martha’s seemingly reasonable critique of Mary’s behavior (Lk 10:40–42), so he also berates the disciples’ here.
The disciples just don’t understand how beautiful this deed is. But they should. Jesus has now clearly predicted his death at least a half-a-dozen times with another six to eight allusions to it. They apparently just haven’t been listening. But Mary has. Her deed looks like a burial anointing. Jesus says it is a burial anointing. Therefore one might assume that she means it to be a burial anointing. Perhaps she and Judas are the first two disciples to truly believe that Jesus is going to die; but how different are their responses. Maybe she isn’t quite that perceptive, but if anyone has had a chance to be it is Mary. Of all the disciples, she has listened most carefully to Jesus. And for her perception and devotion, Jesus promises that she will be remembered whenever and wherever the gospel is preached.
Now about the poor, Jesus reminds the disciples that the poor people will always be around. The opportunities to minister to Jesus, however, are numbered. Therefore, this lavish and extravagant gift is not a waste.
The opportunities to minister to the poor are endless. The opportunity to minister to Jesus is limited. What about today? There is nothing wrong with nice church buildings and paying preachers adequately. But these can hardly be equated with gifts lavished on Jesus personally. Now that he is gone it is time for us to redouble our efforts to minister to the poor. This is especially true since Jesus takes it personally when we help the poor (Mt 25:40; cf. Deut 15:11).
9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
It has been about two months since Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. The very presence of this man with Jesus is the cause of a mass “conversion” among the Jews. These aren’t fairy tales that take place in a distant land. Bethany is in their own backyard and now they have been able to verify this incredible story firsthand. But the chief priests still are not impressed. They are not concerned with the veracity of this miracle story. They are concerned about the security of their positions and the breadth of their influence. Since both Jesus and Lazarus are hindrances to these things, they must be eliminated. The blindness and hypocrisy of these Jewish leaders are colossal. But, unfortunately, they are not unparalleled in other religious institutions where hierarchy and power overshadow the purpose and plans of God.
[LK 22:]3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.
4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus,
[MT 26:]15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” {They were delighted to hear this andMK} counted out for him {promised himMK} thirty silver coins.
[LK 22:]6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
Luke tells us that Satan entered Judas (Lk 22:3), likely on Wednesday. Then again on Thursday evening, after Judas ate the bread that Jesus handed to him, John also says that Satan entered Judas (Jn 13:27). This sounds like Acts 5:3, when Peter said to Ananias, “How is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit?” Apparently Satan has the ability to plant ideas into people’s minds and hearts that they then implement. We may never know the mechanics of how Satan influences people, but we are warned that he indeed does. All three Synoptics note that Judas was one of the twelve, as if to say, “If he was not above such deviance, you too be careful!” We must be vigilant in warding off Satanic influence. By resisting his suggestions and temptations we can send him scurrying away (Jas 4:7).
There have been numerous suggestions as to what motivated Judas to betray Jesus. Perhaps he was jealous of Jesus or disgruntled over the Mary incident. Perhaps he was impatient and wanted to force Jesus to institute the kingdom through a final conflict with the Sanhedrin. Perhaps he was disillusioned that Jesus did not turn out to be the political Messiah that Judas expected. Perhaps Judas was trying to turn a fast buck to replace the money he pilfered from the funds. Perhaps he was trying to save himself as he saw the inevitable and ugly conflict between Jesus and the religious hierarchy coming to a head. We will probably never know the motive, only the result, both for Jesus and Judas. We do know, however, that Judas was operating under the heavy hand of predestination (Ps 41:9; Zech 11:7–14). That is not to say that he had no control over what he did. But it is to say that he, like Jesus, worked out exactly what God had ordained from long ago.
He was promised thirty pieces of silver, the price of a common slave (Exod 21:32). In return, Judas promised to hand over Jesus at an opportune time, away from the crowds.