Jesus Relishes Extravagant Worship

Weekend Message/Devotion

April 7, 2019

John 12:1-8

Jesus Relishes Extravagant Worship

“Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.” Verse 1

As we delve into today’s gospel reading, let’s look behind the scenes just a bit. This gathering is a festive gala. We can just see everyone laughing and joking and enjoying each other’s company. Golly, Lazarus was there, recently raised from the dead. That alone is a good reason to throw a party, wouldn’t you say?

Let’s also remember that the Feast of Pesach (Passover) or (Feast of the Unleavened Bread) is just a week away. If we aren’t careful, we often forget that Jesus and his friends were devout Jews, practicing Jewish worship and traditions. In observing Pesach, all leavened products are to be removed from the home and the house was scrubbed spic and span clean. (see Exodus chapter 12) The special meal for the Passover or Sedar (meaning order of the service) was prepared and shared. If you are so inclined, I recommend reading and studying THE COMPLETE JEWISH STUDY BIBLE, Messianic Jewish Publishers, 2018, for better understanding.

So, Jesus and his friends are just sharing a great time of fellowship. Mary expresses her adoration of Jesus by pouring very expensive “Pure Nard” upon his head and feet.

The Bible Dictionary that I use defines Nard as:

(Heb. nerd), a much-valued perfume (Cant 1:12 ; Deuteronomy 4:13 Deuteronomy 4:14 ). It was "very precious", i.e., very costly ( Mark 14:3 ; John 12:3 John 12:5 ). It is the root of an Indian plant, the Nardostachys jatamansi, of the family of Valeriance, growing on the Himalaya mountains. It is distinguished by its having many hairy spikes shooting out from one root. It is called by the Arabs sunbul Hindi, "the Indian spike." In the New Testament this word is the rendering of the Greek nardos pistike. The margin of the Revised Version in these passages has "pistic nard," pistic being perhaps a local name. Some take it to mean genuine, and others liquid. The most probable opinion is that the word pistike designates the nard as genuine or faithfully prepared.

That even sounds expensive!

Let’s interject one more point before going on. This is Mary the sister of Lazarus and Martha. This anointing and gala are actually in the home of Simon the Leper.

“And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly [a]oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.:” Mark 14:3

NOT to be confused with:

“Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping”

Luke 7:36-38

This reading takes place in the home of another Simon – Simon the Pharisee. The Mary in this reading is Mary the former harlot.

Back to the thread from today’s reading.

As soon as Mary poured out this very expensive and very fragrant oil, worth over 300 denarii, said to be equivalent to a year’s wages for a common laborer, Judas Iscariot immediately became indignant and demanded to know why this extravagant waste was not better served in money to give to the poor. Scripture lays out the truth here in verse 6. We read that Judas was interested in having more money in the coffer used for outreach, which he personally tended. Judas is just shy a few days of selling out the Messiah to be arrested and crucified for a few shekels of silver, but he was known as a thief and known to steal money from the coffer for which he was trusted to maintain. Judas’ interest wasn’t in being conservative it was in having access to funds that he could misappropriate.

“Why was this fragrant oil not sold for [a]three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.” John 12:5-6

As we close this reading, Jesus says:

“Let her alone; [a]she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” Verses 7-8.

This Mary is not the Mary or among those that went to the tomb when Jesus was crucified. Obviously, she understood Jesus when he said that he was on his way to the grave. Mary was most likely anointing Jesus for burial while He was yet among them. At least that’s my take.