TEARS AND A PROMISE

 

Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

 

1.      This story establishes that Jesus was in the last days of His life.  We know that this event happens just two days before the festival of the Passover and unleavened bread.  Jesus was in Jerusalem. 

2.      We also learn that the teachers of the law were scheming two things.  They wanted to arrest Jesus secretly and kill Him.  Remember Jesus knew they were going to kill Him.   All the events of supernatural and natural history were about to collide in the greatest human drama and event of all time. 

3.      The teachers and officials had decided not to do this during the festival.  They knew Jesus was popular and they were concerned about a riot.  Mark puts this in his narrative to set the stage for the final events of Jesus life and this event we are about to talk about. 

 

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

 

1.      Jesus is in Bethany which is located on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives overlooking the Judean Hills.  He is relaxing or reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper.  Simon was Leper this is also recalled in the account of Matthew.  We do know that from this account the disease was in the early stages because he was not yet an outcast or that Jesus had healed him, and this was how he was now identified. 

2.      A woman came in.  Some people it is Mary Magdalene based on the Luke account.  In Mark’s gospel that detail is left.  Mark just says she is a woman.

3.      She comes in with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume.   Alabaster is a form of marble stone made of gypsum.  In the ancient world it was very expensive to make.   A craftsman who would hollow it out the usual time to do it would be from 2 to 3 days.  This was a jar shape.

4.      The perfume inside was pure nard.  Spikenard, also called nard, is an aromatic, amber-colored essential oil, flowering plant in the honeysuckle family which grows in the Himalayas of Nepal, China, and India.  It was imported.

5.      She broke the jar which would have been quite the feat and poured the perfume on his head. 

 

4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

 

1.      Some of those that were there spoke indignantly to each other.  They were criticizing her and this act.  They saw it as a waste of perfume.  They missed the meaning and reason why she did it.  The crowd and critic never see the bigger picture.  They only see things from their narrow, bias, and prejudicial view. 

2.      We now know the value of this perfume it was over a year’s wages.  This would be anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 dollars on today’s money.  They then tried to justify what they were doing by saying the money could have been given to the pour.  The cynic will often disguise their attack in some noble cause. 

3.      This was the cover or reason in their mind for the harsh rebuke they gave her.  They turned an act of beauty into an act of shame and guilt.  They were demeaning her. 

4.      Remember there will always be people who miss what you or they Lord are trying to do.  Remember keep doing the will of the Father.  Keep doing right.  Keep your heart right.  Remember you are not going to have to give an account to any of the crowd.  Just to the Lord. 

 

6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

 

1.       Jesus then has a moment of anger, and he tells the naysayers and critics to leave her alone.  He comes to her rescue.  He says why are you bothering her? 

2.      Jesus tells them they are missing the beauty of the moment and this gesture.  She was doing something that would not be taken away from her.  She and Jesus saw the big picture.  Her act of homage, worship and honor would not be taken away from her. She gave the most expensive thing she had.  God honors both her sacrifice and obedience. 

3.      He reminds them that there will always be poor and disadvantage people.  Jesus also saw their false piety and motives behind what they were doing.  Jesus says you can always help them anytime.  He says there will always be an opportunity to help others which we should.

4.      He reminds them that they will not always have Him.  This was also a moment of truth and prophecy.  Jesus knew shortly what He had to face.  She has done what she could.  Then Jesus states that she has prepared his body for my burial.  Jesus knew before the week was out, He would be dead and buried.  This was a pre-burial, prophetic moment.  Jesus was announcing publicly what would happen to even though they would not understand till later.  Nicodemus and Joseph would prepare his body later, but this was her moment, gift, and time.  It would not be taken away from her.  Jesus was her defender, advocate, and promoter.

5.      Jesus closes with stating that whenever and wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world what she has done will be told in memory of her.  That is why it is included in in all the gospels in one form or another.  This is her story, connection, and blessing of being with Jesus.  All mankind for all generations countries and languages knows this story.  It is her testimony of love, homage, sacrifice and worship.  In Jesus mindset she was a true worshipper.  She gave the most expensive and important thing she had.  If it doesn’t cost us something it is not true worship.  Jesus says if we are not willing to give us family, friends, lands, and society we are not worthy of Him.