Anointing at Bethany Gary Hiebsch March 13, 2016

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” John 12:1-8 (ESV)

The passage is a bit unusual.

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. John 11:1-2 (ESV)

The passage is a bit unusual. Anointing indicates one of two things.

The passage is a bit unusual. Anointing indicates one of two things. Celebration

The passage is a bit unusual. Anointing indicates one of two things. Celebration The installment of a king.

For us neither idea seems to fit here.

Yet, both ideas may be in play.

Within the next few days all of Jesus’ disciples would abandon him as he was arrested, beaten and crucified.

This would seem to be a defeat.

Within the next few days all of Jesus’ disciples would abandon him as he was arrested, beaten and crucified. This would seem to be a defeat. Yet in fact, Jesus defeated sin, death, and Satan at the cross.

Within the next few days all of Jesus’ disciples would abandon him as he was arrested, beaten and crucified. This would seem to be a defeat. Yet in fact, Jesus defeated sin, death, and Satan at the cross. We very well may need to rethink our definitions of success and importance in light of this passage.

The extravagance of this may bother us.

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

The extravagance of this may bother us. Many of us would have asked the question Judas asks.

Most of us are pragmatists.

We judge the value of something by its usefulness to us.

Most of us are pragmatists. We judge the value of something by its usefulness to us. If something provides no practical benefit, we don’t know what to do with it.

Most of us are pragmatists. The problem with pragmatism is that it put our desires and plans at the center of everything.

Mary’s actions here are not pragmatic.

She was most likely a wealthy woman.

Mary’s actions here are not pragmatic. She was most likely a wealthy woman. She placed herself in the position of a servant: the lowliest of servants.

He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” John 12:1-8 (ESV)