“Devotion and Treachery” The Gospel of Jesus Christ: the book of Mark

Read: Mark 14:1-11 NLT – Jesus Anointed at Bethany – It was now – Bible Gateway

“Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head.” Mark 14:3 NLT

We are heading into the final days of Passion Week in our study in the book of Mark. Jesus finished answering His disciples questions about the end times and it is now near the end of the day. Jesus had been staying at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus and most likely retired there for the night. This is either Tuesday or Wednesday evening depending on how one counts the days to Passover. Chapter 14 starts out, “It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread.” (Mk.14:1 nlt) A Jewish day was sunset to sunset. Verse 1 goes on to inform us the leading priests and teachers of the Law were still plotting to arrest Jesus and put Him to death but did not want to do it during the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread for fear of the people. The population of Jerusalem grows during those days to over 500,000 people. The religious rulers were afraid of an uprising among the people if Jesus was arrested. So, they backed off at the moment.

Although placed in the middle of Passion Week in Mark’s gospel, the following event took place on the night before Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday. Mark may have placed it here, as Matthew did, to show the significance of Jesus’ anointing to His upcoming death. The story begins, “Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head.” (Mk.14:3 nlt)

The home is the residence of Simon who at one time was a leper. Jesus had healed him and now Simon was part of the wider circle of Jesus’ followers. Simon’s home could have been a regular stop for Jesus when in Bethany along with Lazarus and his sisters’ home. While they were eating a woman, we know it to be Mary from John’s gospel, came in with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. She proceeded to break open the bottle and pour it over Jesus’ head anointing Him with the aromatic oil of pure nard. It was customary in those days to anoint a guest with a dab of oil, of course this was more than a dab. As the aroma spread throughout the room, the realization began to sink in of Mary’s action. This perfume was kept in an alabaster jar made of a special variety of marble to keep it preserved. It was imported from India and would have been valued at a years wages at the time. Needless to say there were plenty of people upset for what they perceived as a waste of money. “Some of those at the table were indignant. ‘Why waste such expensive perfume?’ they asked. ‘It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!’ So they scolded her harshly.” (Mk.14:4-5 nlt) The gospel of Matthew names the disciples as the ones complaining and John states it was Judas who was leading the charge in the murmuring. They were looking at it from the world’s perspective, as most of us do, but Jesus gives a full explanation to the purpose of Mary’s anointing Him.

The first thing Jesus says is to stop criticizing her. Mary had done a good thing. Then He says, “You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me.” (Mk.14:7 nlt) Jesus was not displaying a lack of concern for the poor but was making a point. (It is true we always have the poor among us. That has not changed. But are we following Jesus’ advice that we can help them whenever we want? And more importantly when do we want to?) Jesus made it a point to stress He will not always be around, in fact Jesus had least than one week before His crucifixion. Mary had done what she could. She anointed Jesus’ body for burial. Did Mary realize the symbolism of what she was doing? We really don’t know. But she was one who sat at His feet listening intently to Jesus’ every word. If we do that today, we may be surprised how much insight the Lord will reveal to us. Jesus knew He was headed for a criminal’s death and criminals did not have their bodies anointed after death before burial. Mary anointed Jesus for His burial. This anointing also displayed her love and devotion to her Lord and Savior, the one who was worthy to have the entire bottle of expensive fragrant oil poured over Him. It was not wasted. He is worthy!

Judas was more than upset, he had enough, “Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them.” (Mk.14:10 nlt) Judas being a thief did not care about the poor, but it sounded good in scolding Mary. He lost an opportunity to put that money in his own pockets. Judas was also looking to Jesus as a political revolutionary to overthrow Rome, and that wasn’t going to happen. He then when to Jesus’ enemies to make a deal to betray Him. The religious leaders who decided to wait until after the Passover changed their minds and took advantage of the opportunity they had and paid Judas thirty pieces of silver. Judas began to secure a time when Jesus would be away from the crowds to set up His arrest.

Mary displayed complete devotion to Jesus, her Lord. No price was too high for Mary to show Him her love. No price was too low for Judas to betray Jesus the Son of God. Thirty pieces of silver seemed the right price for treachery.

Next week we begin our look at the Last Supper………..