How will we be remembered?

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INTRODUCTION:

Memorial Day history (Read printouts)
Four accounts of a woman anointing Jesus with perfumed oil (3 different events or the same event told to give emphasis of a different point)
and (similar sources, same moment)
( A totally different account from the other three)
(Different perspective)
Memorial Day history (Read printouts)
The setting:
Before this memorial action
Matthew 26:1–2 NKJV
Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
Mark 14:1–2 NKJV
After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”
After this memorial action
Mark 14:10–11 NKJV
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.
Mark 14:10-11
John’s setting
Mark 14:
John 12:1–2 NKJV
Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.
The Interpretation of St. John’s Gospel The Anointing at Bethany, 12:1–11

“Six days before the Passover” is not in conflict with the two days before the Passover mentioned in Matt. 26:2; Mark 14:1. Neither of these two evangelists gives the date of the supper at Bethany. They report a saying of Jesus that he would be betrayed and crucified at the feast of the Passover two days hence, while at the very same time the Jewish authorities resolved not to destroy him at the time of the Passover. Then, without following the chronological sequence of events, these two evangelists report the supper. Matthew merely says, “now when Jesus was in Bethany,” and Mark, “and being in Bethany,” neither fixing the date. John supplements the others and records the date.

Jesus is in the house giving Mary an opportunity to show her devotion

Bethany = house of dates or house of misery: “And being in Bethany”
East of the Jordan
John 1:28 NKJV
These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Near the Mount of Olives
Mark 11:1 NKJV
Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples;
The home town of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary about 2 miles from Jerusalem
John 11:1 NKJV
Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
Mentioned 11 times in the Gospels
A house and man once condemned: “at the house of Simon the leper,”
Leviticus 14:54–57 NKJV
“This is the law for any leprous sore and scale, for the leprosy of a garment and of a house, for a swelling and a scab and a bright spot, to teach when it is unclean and when it is clean. This is the law of leprosy.”
Leviticus 14:54–57 NKJV
“This is the law for any leprous sore and scale, for the leprosy of a garment and of a house, for a swelling and a scab and a bright spot, to teach when it is unclean and when it is clean. This is the law of leprosy.”
Leviticus 14:54-
Law of Leprosy and bodily discharges
Leviticus 14:54-
5 Law of Leprosy and bodily discharges
Leprosy in the Bible would not be identical to what we would call leprosy today. I would include a broader range of diseases
The possibility and the determination if one has leprosy leads to a time of isolation and inspection.
Once one is determined to truly have leprosy they are declared unclean and ostracized from society
Leviticus 13:45–46 NKJV
“Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.
A house that by the grace of God, Jesus was sharing fellowship: “as He sat (reclined) at the table”
, Yom Kipper, Day of Atonement follows chapters 13-15
The blessing of Jesus’ presence was made possible by His power
A blessing Mary had experienced at other times
Luke 10:38–42 NKJV
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42
John 11:28 NKJV
And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.”
John 11:32 NKJV
Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
John 11:32

Mary’s action created a memorial that would be forever remembered

An action motivated by her devotion for the Lord
A devotion she was willing to display: “a woman came having an alabaster flask”
A devotion to which she was willing to pay an extreme price: “a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard.”
The alabaster flask - “vessel with a rather long neck which was broken off when the contents were used” Wessel, W. W. (1984). Mark. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, p. 756). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
“vessel with a rather long neck which was broken off when the contents were used”
Wessel, W. W. (1984). Mark. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, p. 756). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
The rarity of her gift - What is spikenard?
Nard made from the root of plants found in India
Would be hard to find in Israel
Perfume of pure nard - the real thing, no inferior substances added
The richness of her gift - What was the value? A years wages verified in the critical response given by some of the disciples
300 denarii about a year’s worth of wage
A pound as told in John would be about 12 ounces according to the weight of water
A devotion she was willing to display: “Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.”
John 12:3 NKJV
Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
John 12:
The Interpretation of St. John’s Gospel The Anointing at Bethany, 12:1–11

John uses ἀλείφω, the verb for any application of oil, not χρίω, the word for sacred and ceremonial anointing. Matthew and Mark record that Mary anointed the head. John takes for granted that his readers know these records and supplements them by stating that Mary anointed the feet. The precious fluid was abundant; poured out upon the head and flowing upon the neck and the shoulders, enough was left for the feet, in fact, so much that Mary wiped off the feet with her hair. The broken alabaster cruse was thus entirely emptied—all its contents offered to the Master. In the house of the Pharisee the holy feet of Jesus had not been washed as even common politeness on the part of the host required, but at this supper in Bethany the washing certainly had not been omitted. But the devoted heart of Mary is not satisfied with the commoner fluid, she now adds the abundance of this most precious ointment that she was able to find. How many dusty, weary paths those beloved feet had trodden—now they are honored, indeed, as they deserve. The Baptist said that he was unworthy to loose the latchet of the sandals of these feet, and Mary feels the same way. At the feet of Jesus she sat when she listened to the words of life, and these feet had brought the Master of death to recall her brother to life.

It means much that Mary should use her hair to wipe the feet, and John even repeats the word feet, as if he meant to emphasize the humiliation expressed in using the hair of the head upon the feet. But in the case of a Jewish woman this act means more. To unbind and loosen the hair in the presence of outsiders was considered an indecent act. Lightfoot tells of a woman who prided herself on the fact that the beams of her house had never seen her hair. Mary’s act is thus one in which she lays her own woman’s honor at the feet of Jesus. She takes that honor and makes it a towel for his holy feet. Hers is a different act from that of the woman in the Pharisee’s house. If there we may say that the proper place for a sinner’s head is at the Savior’s feet, here we may add that the proper place for a disciple’s head is at the Savior’s feet.

Her act was customary to show honor to a guest
In the anointing of the Jesus’ feet she took the position of a slave
Jesus would follow up this action in the upper room where He, Himself would take the position of a slave
John 13:3–5 NKJV
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
John 13:4–5 NKJV
rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
John 13:
She didn’t even consider the response of others for her love for Jesus outweighed any ridicule or discomfort she might face as a result of her action
An action decried by others
An indignant circle: “But there were some who were indignant among themselves
People who share in word and thought each others opinions
People who make judgment without all the facts
People whose own devotion is lacking
A blunt assumption: “an said, Why was this fragrant oil wasted?”
Can anything be wasted done because we love the Lord?
A pious appraisal: “For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.”
Spokesperson for the group
John 12:4–6 NKJV
But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 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.
RCH Lenski

Judas uncorks the vial of his poison, and the vile odor begins to spread.

A brutal attack: “And they criticized her sharply (scolded).”
“The spirit of these narrow-minded fault-finders is unhappily only too common. Their followers and successors are to be found in every part of Christ’s visible church. There is never wanting a generation of people who decry what they call “extremes” in religion, and are incessantly recommending what they term “moderation” in the service of Christ. If a man devotes his time, money, and affections to the pursuit of wordly things, they do not blame him. If he gives himself up to the service of money, pleasure, or politics, they find no fault. But if the same man devotes himself, and all he has, to Christ, they can scarcely find words to express their sense of his folly.--”He is beside himself.” “He is out of his mind.” “He is a fanatic.” “He is an enthusiast.” He is righteous over-much.” “He is an extreme man.”—In short, they regard it as a “waste.”
Let charges like these not disturb us, if we hear them made against us, because we strive to serve Christ. Let us bear them patiently, and remember that they are as old as Christianity itself. Let us pity those who make such charges against believers. They show plainly that they have no sense of obligation to Christ. A cold heart makes a slow hand. If a man once understands the sinfulness of sin, and the mercy of Christ in dying for him, he will never think anything too good or too costly to give to Christ. He will rather feel, “what shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits.” (.) (). He will fear wasting his time, talents, money, affections on the things of this world. He will not be afraid of wasting them on the Savior. He will fear going into extremes about business, money, politics, or pleasure; but he will not be afraid of doing too much for Christ.” —R C Ryle
An action prompted by her spiritual insight
Matthew 26:1–5 NKJV
Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
A devotion she visibly and willingly displayed: “a woman came having an alabaster flask”
A devotion she was willing to pay an extreme price: “of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.”
“The spirit of these narrow-minded fault-finders is unhappily only too common. Their followers and successors are to be found in every part of Christ’s visible church. There is never wanting a generation of people who decry what they call “extremes” in religion, and are incessantly recommending what they term “moderation” in the service of Christ. If a man devotes his time, money, and affections to the pursuit of wordly things, they do not blame him. If he gives himself up to the service of money, pleasure, or politics, they find no fault. But if the same man devotes himself, and all he has, to Christ, they can scarcely find words to express their sense of his folly.--”He is beside himself.” “He is out of his mind.” “He is a fanatic.” “He is an enthusiast.” He is righteous over-much.” “He is an extreme man.”—In short, they regard it as a “waste.”
Let charges like these not disturb us, if we hear them made against us, because we strive to serve Christ. Let us bear them patiently, and remember that they are as old as Christianity itself. Let us pity those who make such charges against believers. They show plainly that they have no sense of obligation to Christ. A cold heart makes a slow hand. If a man once understands the sinfulness of sin, and the mercy of Christ in dying for him, he will never think anything too good or too costly to give to Christ. He will rather feel, “what shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits.” (.) (). He will fear wasting his time, talents, money, affections on the things of this world. He will not be afraid of wasting them on the Savior. He will fear going into extremes about business, money, politics, or pleasure; but he will not be afraid of doing too much for Christ.” —R C Ryle
An action defended and praised by Jesus
Jesus chastised them for their judgmental attitude
A stern command: “Let her alone.”
His words are a peremptory command demanding immediate compliance. —Hiebert page 397
A pointed question for a pointless attack: “Why do you trouble her?”
why indicates that their response was unreasonable. They were causing her needless labor or difficulty. —Hiebert page 397
Jesus’ evaluation of her action: “She has done a good work (a beautiful thing) for Me.”
A good work standing emphatically forward, declares it “a noble deed, beautiful in its insight and courageous faith.” (Thomas M. Lindsay). It was an act with deep spiritual import, wrought on me. Jesus acknowledged that its value was related to His Person; it was an act of devotion to Him.
Jesus corrected their faulty thinking
He addressed their concern (if it was real): “For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good.”
He addressed missed opportunities: “but Me you do not have always.”
Jesus praised her for action of worship
She used the moment to do all she could do: “She has done what she could.”
She had a definite opportunity
She effectively used it
“She spent herself to the uttermost.” —Jones
She used her spiritual insight to show her devotion before it would be impossible to do so: “She has come beforehand to anoint my body for burial.

Jesus had again and again announced his death by violence, by crucifixion at the hands of the Gentiles. What if the disciples failed to grasp just what Jesus meant? Why should not one heart at least realize that Jesus meant exactly what he said? The character of this woman is such that it ought not to surprise us so much that, where dull-witted men failed, she saw that Jesus was now going straight to his death—by crucifixion as he had said. Thus her mind leaped to the conclusion that, when the tragedy now broke, it would be utterly impossible to reach Jesus and to anoint his dead body for its burial. That is why she acted now and unhesitatingly embraced the opportunity which she had hoped would come and for which she was prepared. We may add that only with the understanding that Mary knew that she was now anointing the body of Jesus for its burial is the tremendous praise accorded her act by Jesus himself justified.

RCH Lenski
Jesus spoke of her enduring memorial testimony
Jesus’ absolute truth about her deed: “Assuredly, I say to you,”
Jesus assurance the gospel would be spread: “wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world,”
Mary’s memorial act would be included: “what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
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