No Gift Too Costly

Introduction:

The story we are about to explore is one of contrasts—a contrast between devotion and betrayal, between the selfless offering of Mary and the selfish scheming of Judas. It’s a story that reminds us that in the presence of Jesus, our hearts are revealed.

As we step into the scene, Jerusalem is alive with anticipation. Passover is approaching, a time when the city swells with pilgrims and the air is thick with the hope of deliverance. But while the crowds are preparing for a celebration, Jesus is preparing for His sacrifice—a gift so extravagant that it would change the course of history.

In the middle of this tension, we find Mary of Bethany, offering a gift that mirrors the extravagance of her Savior’s love. Her alabaster jar, broken and poured out, symbolizes a devotion that knows no limits. And in her act, we see a powerful challenge: Is there any gift too costly to lay at the feet of Jesus?

As we reflect on her offering and the reactions it provoked, may we consider what it means to offer our own lives in extravagant devotion to the One who gave everything for us.

As Jesus prepares for His sacrificial offering on the cross; Mary prepared a sacrificial offering for Him through an alabaster jar. As Followers of Jesus, there is no gift too extravagant to lay before our Savior.

vv. 1–3) The Woman’s Gift:

[1] “after two days it was Passover:” this reference to time is very important and significant, because there was an expectation for the Messiah to come during passover, as well as Jerusalem was busting at the seams with people observing this important holiday. Since Passover remembered the time when God raised up a great deliverer and freed Israel from foreign oppression, it was a time of great patriotic and messianic anticipation.

And I’m quite certain, most of the people in Jerusalem and throughout the surrounding region were talking about what had happened a week earlier. Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where people were crying out Hosanna! The Romans were also certainly on guard ready for any hint of revolt from this small troublesome region.

Every possible preparation was made for the Passover. Months in advance, the meaning of this important feast was explained in each synagogue and Jewish school so that no one would be unprepared. As people streamed into Jerusalem, they noticed every tomb near a road was painted with whitewash, to prevent them from defiling themselves accidentally by brushing against a tomb.

Every male Jew were required to come to Jerusalem 3 times a year. The three “pilgrimage festivals” of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

Deuteronomy 16:16 NKJV

16 “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.

Many of the people who heard and saw Jesus ministering throughout the region of Galilee were here, with great respect and great expectation regarding Jesus.

As the chief priests and the scribes plotted the murder of an innocent man, it shows they did not fear God. Nevertheless, they feared the people as we see in verse 2. These religious leaders were not afraid to murder the Son of God; they just believed they had to do it in a politically smart way.

They were not wanting to kill Jesus during the Passover feast, but they ended up doing it during this time anyway. Because God’s plans always come to fruition when He wants. What this shows me is this: God was in control even when these leaders acted according to the evil inclinations of their little filthy hearts… Their actions would fulfill prophecy and the plan of God for Christ to be our sacrifice for sin.

From John 11:57 it seems the religious leaders originally intended to seize Jesus during the feast.

John 11:57 NKJV

57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.

When they saw the popularity of Jesus at the triumphal entry and His authority on the temple mount, they changed their minds and decided to do it after the feast. Their plans changed again when Judas volunteered to arrange a private, quiet arrest.

You will never give Jesus an adequate response if you are worried about the approval of the crowd (14:2,6).

[3] John’s gospel gives us an account of this incident and tells us this was Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus and Martha.

This isn’t the same event as when a sinful woman brought th alabaster box with ointment, broke it and anointed Jesus’ feet. That occasion was previous, but it was different in that the woman was overwhelmed with her own sense of sinfulness and adoration to her Lord who pardoned her. Mary focus it seems is solely on Jesus alone, not even on her own forgiven sins. It was a great thing to love Jesus for all He has done for us; it can be greater still to love Him simply for who He is in all HIs wonder and majesty.

[take a moment, close your eyes and picture this]

Revelation 4 NKJV

1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

This is the great Savior we worship…

Mary displayed an extravagant devotion to Jesus. Often spices and ointments were used as investments because they were small, portable, and could be easily sold.

“Early in the first century Pliny the Elder remarked that ‘the best ointment is preserved in alabaster.’ The value of the perfume, and its identification as nard, suggests that it was a family heirloom that was passed on from one generation to another, from mother to daughter.”–Lane

The flask was a small bottle with a thin neck and breaking the neck of the bottle opened it. Mark’s wording indicates she poured the entire contents of the bottle on the head of Jesus.

According to customs of the time, when guests arrived for a meal, it was customary to anoint the guest’s head with a dab of oil. Here, Mary went so much farther than the customary greeting. She poured the entire contents of the flask on the head of Jesus.

This was a wonderful, perceptive act of Mary. Jesus just rode into Jerusalem as King—and shouldn’t kings be anointed? I believe she understood this, where the disciples didn’t.

Also she did this without a word. She didn’t announce what she was going to do, and she didn’t describe it as she did it. Nor did she explain it after she simply poured her costly ointment upon the head of Christ.

“If we could all do more and talk less it might be a blessing to ourselves at least, perhaps to others. Let us labor in our service for the Lord to be more and more hidden; as much as the proud desire to catch the eye of man, let us endeavor to avoid it.”—Spurgeon

You never regret giving something of value for something you value more (14:3).

The truest offerings are those which can never be taken back (14:3).

[drink offering]

Think about this; when Mary was finished, she didn’t look to the disciples and ask their opinion of what she did.

“You should rise above such idle dependence upon man’s opinion; what matters it to you what your fellow-servants think? To your own Master you stand or fall. If you have done a good thing do it again. You know the story of the man who comes riding up to the captain, and says, ‘Sir, we have taken a gun from the enemy.’ ‘Go and take another,’ said the matter-of-fact officer. That is the best advice which I can render to a friend who is elated with his own success. So much remains to be accomplished that we have no time to consider what has been done.”–Spurgeon.

vv. 4–9) The Critics’ Reaction:

John 12:1–8 tells us one of those who were indignant was specifically Judas who was upset about the expense. And his indignation was entirely self-serving.

John 12:6 NKJV

6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

“They criticized her sharply:” Family it is easy to criticize those who show more love to Jesus than you do. Sometimes we want to define fanatic as someone who is more devoted to Jesus than we are.

In your attempt to demean the offering someone gives, you are actually demeaning the Recipient (14:4).

Judas may have started the criticism, but he wasn’t alone for long. Mark’s gospel makes it clear, “they criticized her sharply.” Each one looked at the oil on Jesus’ head and considered it wasted. Mary probably started to wonder if she really had done something wrong.

“It is interesting the word translated ‘waste’ in Mark 14:4 is translated ‘perdition’ in John 17:12 and applied to Judas! Judas criticized Mary for ‘wasting money,’ but he wasted his entire life!”–Wiersbe

This particular flask seems to have been worth more than a year’s wages for a laborer.

“I shall always feel obliged to Judas for figuring up the price of that box of costly nard. He did it to blame her, but we will let his figures stand, and think the more of her the more he put down to the account of waste. I should never have known what it cost, nor would you either, if Judas had not marked down in his pocket-book.”–Spurgeon

Many criticize other people’s offerings in an attempt to distract you from their own stinginess and iniquity (14:5–7).

[6] “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me:” The disciples thought this extravagant anointing with oil was a waste, but Jesus received it as a good work. With her simple love and devotion to Jesus, it seems to me that Mary understood what the disciples did not—Jesus was about to die, and she intended this gift as a preparation for his burial.

“In the Greek there are two words for good. There is agathos which describes a thing which is morally good; and there is kalos which describes a thing which is not only good but lovely. A thing might be agathos, and yet be hard, stern, austere, unattractive. But a thing which is kalos is winsome and lovely, with a certain bloom of charm upon it.”–Barclay

Jesus have her the highest compliment: “She has done what she could.” God expects no more from us than what we can do; but beware of setting your sights so low you believe doing nothing is doing what you can.

“There can be no high commendation than this. All cannot do great things for Christ. but it is well if each one does what he can as unto the Lord Himself.”–Ironside

[8] Mary’s act was all the more precious because it was planned “she has come before hand.” This wasn’t a spontaneous, seized by the moment kind of action. It was carefully planned beforehand.

I believe Mary listened and believed the Lord’s teaching in a way the other, the disciple included, simply didn’t. When He said He would be delivered into the hands of wicked men and mocked and scourged and crucified, she believed it. It is as if she said, “If my Jesus will be mocked and tortured, then I will honor him in a special way.”

A sensitivity to the ways of the Lord allows you to participate in moments which others simply miss (14:8).

The disciples did not want to think about the death of Jesus. When Peter heard of it, he tried to rebuke Jesus and talk him out of it. Mary had a different devotion, and instead of debating or denying His death, she turned it into an occasion of worship.

“Nothing puts life into men like a dying Savior. Get you close to Christ, and carry the remembrance of him about you from day to day, and you will do right royal deeds. Come, let us slay sin, for Christ was slain. Come let us bury all our pride, for Christ was buried. Come, let us rise to newness of life, for Christ has risen. Let us be united with our crucified Lord in his one great object—let us live and die with him, and then every action of our lives will be very beautiful.”–Spurgeon

Jesus knew He was going to die, but He did not waver in confidence one bit. he also knew He would rise from the dead and that His Gospel would be preached in the whole world.

Remember this, the disciples argued about which of them was the best. This is because they longed for fame and influence, however, this woman found an enduring memorial. She found it not by longing for a position, but simply by loving Jesus and serving Him faithfully.

There is a tendency within us all to look at this story and to say, “Well I love Jesus too, tell me what I should do to show it.” Part of the woman’s great love was displayed in the fact she came up with the idea to express her love for Jesus in this way. If there was a command to do this, it would never be this precious.

halfway efforts never make worldwide impacts (14:9).

“‘Oh,’ cries a brother, ‘tell me what i could do for Jesus!’ Nay, but, brother, I must not tell you. The better part of the whole matter will lie in the hallowed ingenuity of your spirit in inventing something for him out of your own fervent soul.”–Spurgeon

vv. 10–11) The Betrayer’s Catalyst:

[10] Many speculate on the motive of Judas. Perhaps his feelings were hurt when Jesus rebuked him after Mary poured the ointment over Jesus’ feet. Perhaps it was plain greed, anger of Jesus not being what he expected. Some speculate Jesus wanted to force Jesus into an open display of Messianic glory.

Matthew 26:15 NKJV

15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.

This passage makes it clear Judas bargained with the religious leaders for the life of Jesus. Whatever the motive was, it was his motive. God used the wicked work of a willing Satan, who used a willing Judas. God ordained these things to happen, but He didn’t prompt Judas to sin.

Our response, when Jesus differs from our expectation, reveals the motive of our commitment (14:10).

There are two types of followers of Jesus:

Those who want Jesus.

Those who want what Jesus can give.

The religious leaders had wanted to destroy Jesus for such a long time:

Mark 3:6 NKJV

6 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.

Finally they had a previous ally—a disciple willing to betray Him.

Mary’s gift was 300 denarii = Over a year’s wages

Judas’ bounty was 30 shekels = About a third of a year’s wages

The benefit of betrayal is never equal to the cost of surrender (14:11).

Pay attention to this: Judas not only rejected Jesus, but he also sought to destroy Jesus. Many reject Jesus, but they do not seek to harm and destroy Him.

Some curse Jesus, consciously or unconsciously dishonoring His name.

Some talk and teach against His divine nature, against the fact He is the Son of God.

Some talk and teach against the written revelation of Himself and the truth, that being, the Word, the Holy Bible.

Some talk and teach against His active presence in the life of the genuine believer.

Matthew 7:15 NKJV

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

1 Timothy 4:1–2 NKJV

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

2 Timothy 3:1–5 NKJV

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Benediction:

Numbers 6:24–26 KJV 1900

24 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.