April 11, 2022
During His three-year ministry, Jesus was anointed with precious oil (perfume) by women who followed Him at least two times. Both of the anointings that are recorded in Scripture occurred in homes.
The first anointing, recorded by Luke, took place in the home of a Pharisee in Galilee named Simon. The woman who anointed Jesus had something of a bad reputation. The Lord, though, commended her for her love, which sprang from her gratitude to Jesus as a forgiven sinner.
He was anointed a second time just days before He was crucified at Passover in Jerusalem. In other words, at exactly this time of year. This anointing took place in the town of Bethany in the home of another man known as Simon the Leper (no doubt a former leper). The woman who anointed Him was Mary, the sister of Martha, and the alive-again Lazarus.
This second anointing is our focus today. We find the narrative in Matthew, Mark, and John, and will consider it from Matthew’s perspective. (Matthew 26)
It fits with what we know of Mary that she would honor Jesus by an anointing. She was the contemplative, the heart-driven worshiper. But, in telling the story, Matthew lets us know that the disciples (Matthew transparently includes himself here) were indignant when they saw her pouring the perfume on Jesus’ head while reclining at the low table.
They said, “Why this waste!?”
They suggested that more good could have been done with the perfume by selling it and giving the proceeds to help the poor. Well, yes, serving the poor is a fine way for any of us to deal with material wealth. But in this case Jesus disagrees with the disciples’ objection to what Mary has done.
He commended her for taking advantage of a unique and timely opportunity to honor Him by anointing, because, while the poor are always in need of love and care, He will soon be gone. She has chosen the better route in pouring out this expensive perfume on Jesus, and He praises her for it, pronouncing a blessing, [Matthew 26:13] ‘’Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”
According to Jesus, there was something about Mary’s act that pictures what the Gospel is all about. Three aspects of that picture especially stand out.
First, love. There was no one on the sidelines prompting Mary to do this thing. This act sprung from a willing and a loving heart. She was looking for a way to express her love for Jesus and she decided on this act of anointing. She would pour out on Jesus a valuable and a sweet-smelling treasure.
In the same way, God the Father and God the Son, acting in concert, agreed that the Son should be given freely to bring salvation to a lost world. No one was twisting God’s arm to prompt this. He did this, prompted by His great love for us.
Second, sacrifice. If Mary didn’t calculate the value of the perfume, the disciples sure did. They knew that it was worth a lot, or they wouldn’t have objected to “this waste.” The anointing required her preparation of the alabaster box, the transport to Simon’s house, the breaking of the box, the disruption of the evening’s activities, and the loss of the value of the perfume from her net wealth.
As the anointing was for Mary, so Jesus’ work on our behalf was sacrificial. He left heaven for earth, exchanged glory for a manger crib, lived in poverty, suffered humiliation, endured beatings, and was crucified. Yes, He rose victorious from the grave, but the loss of His life on the cross was real. He sacrificed Himself for us.
Third, extravagance. Today, no woman would douse herself with a quart of expensive perfume before a night on the town. It would be too much. A drop of two will suffice. And Mary’s anointing of Jesus need not have been the entire contents of the alabaster box of perfume. It was over the top, more than necessary, extravagant. Hence the disciples’ objection about “waste.” They probably would have no doubt been OK with a reasonable anointing. But Mary’s version was prodigality – in a good way – defined.
Just so, Jesus didn’t look for the easiest, safest or most economical way to provide redemption. He poured out His blood to the fullest extent, drank the cup of suffering to the dregs. For us.
As we enter Holy Week, 2022, and consider Jesus’ final days, we remember Mary’s anointing of Jesus, just like He said we would. There may be dozens of ways in which her act of worship pointed to the Gospel. But at least in three ways – love, sacrifice, and extravagance – she fleshed out the redemption Jesus gives us.
Thank You, Jesus.
Yours…His,
Dave
Note: The seeds for these thoughts are from A. B. Bruce’s classic book on disciple-making, The Training of the Twelve.
