The Anointing at Bethany

The Context (v. 1, 2)

Time

Six days before Passover

This means we are just days away from the crucifixion

Place

Bethany

Possibly at Simeon the Leper’s house based on Mark 14

Occasion

A dinner held in Jesus’ honor

Where we find the faithful Martha once again serving.

Perhaps this was in celebration of Lazarus’ resurrection.

They held this dinner at risk to themselves for the Sanhedrin had already given the order to turn Jesus in if He was seen.

Link to Chapter 11

Mary, Martha and Lazarus

Bethany

The treachery of the chief priests

Mary’s Adoration (v. 3)

Cultural Context

The washing of feet was a typical custom when one entered a home.

The use of sweet smelling oils was also typical when you entered a home.

However, what Mary did was not normal even in her day.

Why would she waste so much oil on one person.

Letting her hair down in public would have been considered indecent.

Three Marks of Mary’s Adoration

It required preparation

She brought the oil with her.

I don’t think she used her hair because she couldn’t find a rag. Even if she wasn’t in her own home she was in a house where she could have found a piece of cloth to use.

It was an act of personal consecration

It changed her ambitions

This oil was likely intended for one of two purposes

It may have been saved as a part of her dowry

It may have been saved to use in the burial of a loved one or her own burial one day.

Whatever her future plans for the costly oil she now gave it all to honor Jesus.

Knowing Jesus changed everything for Mary, not necessarily in all of her physical circumstances but certainly in the way she viewed them and understood them.

The Gospel of Mark tells us that Mary broke the lid off of the bottle so that it could not be used again. She also anointed His head as well as His feet.

It was an expression of biblical humility

This was a supreme act of humility. Can you imagine washing someones feet with your hair.

What was she trying to express in this act? - The all surpassing worth of Christ.

Personal Principles for Worship

Mary’s actions are descriptive rather than prescriptive

Worship is enhanced by preparation

In order to give our best

To lead in corporate worship requires preparation

All worship requires heart preparation

Worship is not something you passively experience it is something you actively participate in.

Worship is an act of personal consecration

When we worship we are setting ourselves aside in order to express the all surpassing worth of God.

In the Bible the word consecration means “the separation of oneself from things that are unclean, especially anything that would contaminate one’s relationship with a perfect God.” Consecration also carries the connotation of sanctification, holiness, or purity.

All believers are consecrated to God, we are His. When we worship in spirit and in truth we are acting in cooperation with that consecration.

Worship is an expression of biblical humility

True humility is seeing yourself as God sees you.

It is not about being self debasing or thinking lowly of yourself.

Christians can employ biblical humility precisely because we find our greatest worth not in ourselves but in Christ.

Judas’ Opposition (v. 4-6)

False Affection (v. 4, 5)

Judas was probably just voicing what everyone else was thinking.

This pound of oil, which in our measurements is probably about 11oz, was worth 300 denarii. This was a years salary for a day laborer. In today’s currency we would say that this oil is worth as much as 30,000 dollars.

From a human perspective what Judas said was reasonable.

However, much of what Jesus was trying to teach His disciples was to stop looking at everything from a human perspective and to see these kinds of things from a heavenly perspective.

Hardened Heart (v. 6)

There has been much evil committed in the world under the pretense of a false piety or affection.

John as he wrote this Gospel uses verse 6 to expose a man he once considered a friend.

Judas was really concerned about the poor at all.

When he had cast his lot with Jesus, he expected Him to usher in the political, earthly messianic kingdom most Jewish people were looking for. As one of the inner circle, Judas had eagerly anticipated an exalted position in that kingdom. But now, for him, that dream had turned to ashes. Jesus had so antagonized the Jewish leaders that they intended to kill Him (John 7:1; 11:53). Not only that, the Lord Himself warned the disciples that His death was inevitable (e.g., Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33). And when the Galilean crowds sought to crown Jesus as the earthly king Judas thought He would be, the Lord refused to cooperate with them (John 6:14–15).

Jesus’ Instruction (v. 7, 8)

“Leave her alone” - Jesus speaks up and defends Mary

“against the day of My burial hath she kept this.”

Scholars and commentators are in disagreement as to what Jesus really meant with this phrase.

What I believe is going on here is that Jesus takes this supreme act of worship by Mary and uses it to again point to His soon coming death and burial.

“For the poor you will always have with you, but I will not always be with you.”

Obviously, Jesus meant that He would not always be with them physically.

Again we see Jesus anticipating His death.

He also with this phrase puts a premium on worship.

Jews’ Intentions (v. 9-11)

Lazarus becomes a tourist destination (v. 9)

The Chief Priests plot to kill Lazarus

The Nature of Sin

How often does one sin lead to another

Tell one lie and you will have to eventually tell another to cover up the first.

They started out just plotting to murder Jesus but now they see that Lazarus must die as well.

So much for Caiaphas’ words that “one man must die for the nation” now it is two men.

How long before its three, then four?

Sin has a cascading effect or a domino effect.