From Mark 14
Have you ever heard the gospel proclaimed describing the actions of a woman who gave thanks? In today’s passage Jesus knows where he is heading. He knows he will be handed over to the Jewish authorities. That he will suffer and die at their hands. He knows he will rise again. A woman does something very significant for him before these events that is recorded in every gospel. Another, a man this time, walks away and plots to betray him.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
Jesus has been teaching he will suffer many things, be rejected by the Jewish authorities and be killed and after three days rise again (Mk 8.31; 9.31; 10.33-34). Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem (Mk 11.1). Its only a matter of time until his prediction is fulfilled. Today’s passage describes some of Jesus’ preparation for the event.
[1] It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, [2] for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” (Mk 14.1-2)
The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened bread commemorated the LORD’s great act of salvation rescuing Israel from Egyptian slavery.
The Jews had been practicing it, on and off, til this day. Little did they know God had in store another, bigger and better Passover in Jesus’ upcoming death. There is a sense of irony as the chief priests and scribes are seeking to kill Jesus. Because they are instrumental in this second, bigger and better Passover.
[3] And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. (Mk 14.3)
The text gives the appearance Jesus is very relaxed being at a lepers house and ‘reclining at a table’. Lepers were traditionally unclean. Jesus doesn’t care. He may well have healed him.
While Jesus is there a woman comes in. “The Gospels of Mark and Matthew do not report this woman’s name, but the Gospel of John tells us it was Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus (John 11:1–2).” (Cooper, R. L. (2000). Mark (Vol. 2, p. 234). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
We know Jesus knew them all because he raised Lazarus from the dead. Jesus would have walked away not expecting anything in return. Mary however probably spent all her savings on the flask of ointment. Wanting to show gratitude for what Jesus had done for her and the family. Perhaps she knew what was going to happen to Jesus. She wanted to prepare him for it in the best way she knew.
Has Jesus done anything for you? What would you give to Jesus?
She breaks the flask. Its fragrance would have spread through the whole house. The fragrance of Jesus’ mercy and her thanksgiving.
“Whether the woman anointed Jesus in gratitude for some favor (e.g., a healing) or whether she recognized him as the Messiah, Mark did not say; but he likely expected his readers/hearers to see messianic significance in the action. In the Old Testament kings (e.g., 1 Sam 10:1; 16:12–13; 1 Kgs 1:38–39; 2 Kgs 9:1–6), priests (e.g., Exod 28:41), and prophets (1 Kgs 19:16) were anointed. The very word Messiah/Christ means the anointed one.” (Brooks, J. A. (1991). Mark (Vol. 23, p. 222). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
[4] There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? [5] For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. (Mk 14.4-5)
They said the ointment was ‘wasted’. Little do they care she has anointed the King of Kings, the Lord of all.
‘Given to the poor’. I suspect these people cover up their own greed with the criticism. I dont mean to put down the needs of the poor or belittle those who support them. In this instance I think she chose something far better.
Three hundred denarii was a massive amount of money. Close to a years wages. She spent it all on Jesus. Willingly with no regrets. Jesus in her mind deserves it.
[6] But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. [7] For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. [8] She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. [9] And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” (Mk 14.6-9)
Jesus defends her actions. ‘You will not always have me’. Jesus will go away. Jesus alludes to his death and burial. She has anointed him with a massive amount of fragrant oil. This is the last chance they have with Jesus.
Jesus says ‘wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her’. Jesus is referring to his story when he says ‘the gospel’.
The gospels are called the gospel because they are the gospel.
All of the gospels refer to the same incident (Mt 26.6-13; Jn 12.1-8; Lk 7.37-39) because they follow Jesus’ implied instruction and think it important she should be remembered as well.
Someone else in the room sets out to do something associated with Jesus’ death and burial.
[10] Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. [11] And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him. (Mk 14.10-11)
Perhaps Judas was one of the ones who criticised the woman for what she did to Jesus.
The text depicts two people associated with Jesus death. One spent massive amounts of money, perhaps all she had, out of gratitude for Jesus and what he had done. The other sold him out and sought to betray him.
About Jesus
Jesus sees things differently than those around him. He recognises the significance of what people are doing around him and knows how they relate to his death and burial.
He is preparing himself. He knows what will happen to him.
Yet still he reclines at lepers houses. He makes it important for all people everywhere to remember the acts of devotion people showed him before he departed.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2015. All Rights Reserved.
