Jesus Anointed at Bethany (2)

Intro

Lazarus’ sister does something so astonishing that it makes some of the disciples shriek with outrage.

This event takes place shortly before Jesus’ crucifixion. In a little town called Bethany on the slope of the Mt. of Olives a couple of miles East of Jerusalem. You may already know that this is the town where Lazarus, Martha and Mary live. On this occasion a dinner party is being held at Simon’s house to honor Jesus. Simon is noted for previously having leprosy. We don’t know all of Simons story, how he came to be cured of leprosy or his relation to Lazarus.

Listen, If you’re a Lady who’s brother has been raised from the dead, your at the house of a man healed of leprosy, but you’re the one being talked about, then your either did something really good or really bad. As we will see in the scripture, whether it was good or bad depends on who you ask.

Matthew 26:1-16 and John 12:1-8

Mt 26:1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

3 At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, 4 plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”

6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy.

Jn 12:1 Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead.

2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor.

Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him.

3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

Mt 26:7 While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.

8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. 9 “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”

Jn 12:4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

Mt 26:10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial.

13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15 and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

John 11:25–27 (NLT)

25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”

Lets look closer at these people, especially at their reactions to Jesus and each other.

Religious Leaders

The religious leaders. – secret plotting to kill Jesus

Jesus says he is the Son of God come down from heaven. They called him a blasphemer.

Jesus cast out demons. They say Jesus is empowered by the prince of demons.

Jesus does miracles, healings. They say he is breaking the sabbath. They tell people not to talk about it.

Jesus Raises the dead. They make plans to kill him. Saying “ If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”

They had their own ideas of what the messiah would be, and Jesus didn’t fit their narrative.

Their response was to stubbornly refuse to see what God was actually doing right in front of them.

They responded with resentment, hatred, and murder.

Judas and Apostles

Judas and some of the other disciples. – indignation (outrage at wrong or unfair) criticism

Judas expresses outrage over Mary’s actions. Some of the other disciples join in this disapproval.

Be careful about criticism. Not only what goes out but what you take in.

John makes it clear that Judas’ criticism was just a mask for his own selfishness.

Judas selfishness becomes betrayal. He sides with the rebellious murderers against Jesus.

A charitable view of these other disciples is that maybe they were so focused on outward service that they overlooked the importance of service to Christ himself.

Mary

Mary – worship

Read scripture

Exuberant

Exuberant : The custom was to provide water and sometimes oil with which the guest could wash their own feet and rub in some oil. Anointing a guest’s head was a common custom at festive Jewish meal. Mary goes beyond custom and anoints Jesus feet as well.

When Jesus wanted to teach humility to his disciples he washed their feet.

She humbles herself before her Lord. Letting down her hair and using it to wipe his feet makes this an intimate act of worship. Humility and Intimacy is her response to Jesus

Extravagant

Extravagant : Pure nard was a fragrant oil prepared from the roots and stems of an aromatic herb grown high in the Himalayas. Imported from northern India, sealed in alabaster flasks most commonly in 1 oz. containers which were opened only on special occasions.

I know little about perfume, but I know the more rare and pure it is, the more expensive. Also, if my wife likes it they will quit making it.

Mary had a 12 oz. jar of It worth a year’s wages. Why had she bought it and saved it? So that when she died it could be used on her body! To prepare her body for burial.

She had provided for herself this precious thing to use as the period to her life’s sentence. Her response to Jesus was to selflessly pour out what she had intended for herself, onto Jesus instead.

Judas called it a waste. He doesn’t get it. I am convinced that once we realize what Jesus has actually done for us, we’ll see that he worth everything we have and everything we are and everything we could be. May we all selflessly waste ourselves in worship of the Lord.

Fragrant

Fragrant : The house was filled with the fragrance. I imagine Martha in the kitchen coming out to see what had happened. Others coming into the room to see what is going on. They find Mary worshiping at the feet of Jesus.

When you respond to Jesus with humility, intimacy, and self-sacrifice a spiritual fragrance will begin to emanate from your life.

People may start to notice a difference. Nana Sharon a godly woman who radiated Gods presence.

After this Jesus and Mary smelled alike.

Humility, Intimacy, and selfless is her response to Jesus

Timely

Timely : Jesus was saying I will be handed over to be crucified. A reminder of what Jesus was teaching them. John 11:25-27

Mary got it and did what she could to anoint his body for burial ahead of time.

Others tried but couldn’t Read Mk 16:1-6

Mark 16:1–6 (NLT)

Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.

5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, 6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.

You and I have a timely opportunity right now to acknowledge Jesus as the savior and make him our savior and Lord. To live by that truth and make our lives a fragrant offing to him.

The Good News Jhn 11:25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”

There is a day coming when every knee will bow, and every mouth will confess that Jesus is the Lord. On the day of judgment even the rebellious leaders, staunchest atheist and selfish sinners will see how wrong they were and admit the truth but it will not save them.

Today is the day for salvation.

Forever Linked

Why does Jesus forever pair Mary’s act of worship with the gospel message?

Because her response is what the Gospel is supposed to produce in us.

humble, intimate, selfless, and timely worship that emanates the pleasing aroma of Gods life within us.

What is your Response ?